extended about a
mile in length.

As the column approached the ridge, the natives took up their post
behind it; but, as in a direct advance against it, the column would be
swept by the fire of their guns and musketry, without being able to make
any adequate return against the concealed foes, General Graham
determined to turn it by working round its flank. Accordingly, after a
halt, the column continued its march in an oblique direction across the
face of the position.

At a few minutes before eleven, the cavalry scouts moved away from the
front of the column and left it face to face with the enemy, who were
now but a few hundred yards away. Their heads could be seen popping up
behind the bushes and earthworks, and every moment it was expected that
they would rise from their hiding-places and charge down upon the column
which was marching past their front at a distance of about 400 yards.

The assault did not come, but a sudden fire of musketry broke out from
the face of the position, and the Krupp guns, captured from Baker's
force, in their batteries opened fire on the column. The effect was at
once visible, several men in the square fell out from the ranks wounded;
but fortunately the enemy fired high, and the storm of shot and shell,
for the most part, passed harmlessly over the column. Without returning
a shot, the column moved steadily on in the line which would soon place
them across the end of the enemy's position, and enable them to take it
in the rear.

It was very trying to the nerve of the troops to march on without firing
while pelted with such a storm of missiles. General Baker was badly
wounded in the face by a bullet from a shell, and many men were struck,
but by this time the column had reached the desired position; they had
passed round the enemy's line, and were almost in their rear. They
halted now, and the men lay down, while the sailors opened fire upon the
enemy with the gatlings, and the men of the camel battery with their
seven-pounders,--six guns of the enemy replying. These were well
handled and aimed, for the garrison of Tokar had three days before
surrendered, and were now fighting in the ranks of their captors, whose
guns were all worked by the Egyptian artillerymen.

By twelve o'clock the English guns had silenced those of the enemy, and
the word was given for an advance against their position; the bagpipes
struck up, the men sprang to their feet cheering, and the column, still