e results no one did much prying until
everything had been examined and pronounced safe. But that the wells were
safe was the great thing and their importance could hardly be
over-estimated.

They must be amongst the oldest in the world. For thirty-seven centuries
there has been water at Beersheba, since, in fact, Abraham sank the wells
in the neighbourhood, and these have known many vicissitudes. When he died
the Philistines came and rendered them all useless by filling them up with
sand: a precedent, you will have noticed, much favoured by the Turks,
though their methods were more modern. Years after came Isaac and excavated
the wells again; whereupon he had to fight with the men of Gerar for the
possession of them. Tiring of strife he dug the well at Beersheba which
gives the town its name, and this he retained, having made peace with the
Philistines. Finally, history repeating itself nearly four thousand years
later, British soldiers fought for, and won, these self-same wells, which
were substantially in as good condition as when they were first made.

But what had been an ample supply for the flocks of the patriarchs and
passing caravans proved inadequate for the needs of the thousands of men
and horses and camels thronging into Beersheba. A hundred thousand gallons
is a big tax on the capacity of any well, and this is a very moderate
estimate of the amount required daily by the troops. From the moment they
were pronounced fit for use the watering-places by the station were crowded
with thirsty men and animals, and the supply soon decreased alarmingly. To
add to the trouble most of the stored water, accumulated previously with
such care and labour, was delayed somewhere _en route_ to Beersheba and
ultimately had considerable difficulty in reaching the place at all.
Meanwhile the "Cameliers," whose mounts could last in fair comfort for a
week without water, went off into the parched hills north of Beersheba to
perform their usual function of protecting our flank. Then all the mounted
troops took the road towards Sheria, so as to be in readiness for the main
blow when the transport difficulty had been solved.

CHAPTER XV

GAZA AT LAST

During the days immediately following the capture of Beersheba the mounted
troops were kept exceedingly busy, for our position was yet by no means
secure. Every day the Turks in the hills made an attempt to drive us
eastwards into the desert and every day we strove to push