The Dervish loss in the action was severe. More than 800 dead were left
on the field, and there were besides 500 wounded and 600 prisoners.
The casualties in the Egyptian army were 1 British officer--Captain
Legge--wounded, 20 native soldiers killed and 83 wounded.

Firket is officially classed as a general action: special despatches
were written, and a special clasp struck. The reader will have formed
his own estimate of the magnitude and severity of the fight. The whole
operation was well and carefully planned, and its success in execution
was complete. The long and difficult night march, the accurate arrival
and combination of the two columns, the swift deployment, the enveloping
movement, proved alike the discipline and training of the troops and the
skill of their officers. The only point on which criticism may be made
is the failure of the Desert Column to intercept the flying Dervishes.
But it should be remembered they had marched far, and it was not at that
time certain what the powers of the mounted troops were. The brilliant
aspect of the affair caused great satisfaction in England, and the
further prosecution of the campaign was looked for with increasing
interest.

CHAPTER VII: THE RECOVERY OF THE DONGOLA PROVINCE

Countless and inestimable are the chances of war. Those who read the
story, and still more those who share the dangers, of a campaign feel
that every incident is surrounded with a host of possibilities, any one
of which, had it become real, would have changed the whole course of
events. The influence of Fortune is powerfully and continually exerted.
In the flickering light of conflict the outlines of solid fact throw
on every side the vague shadows of possibility. We live in a world of
'ifs.' 'What happened,' is singular; 'what might have happened,' legion.
But to try to gauge the influence of this uncertain force were utterly
futile, and it is perhaps wise, and indisputably convenient, to assume
that the favourable and adverse chances equate, and then eliminate them
both from the calculation.

The 'Sirdar's luck' became almost proverbial in the Soudan. As the
account progresses numerous instances will suggest themselves. It was
lucky that the Dervishes did not harass the communications, or assail
Akasha before it was fortified. It was lucky that they fought at Firket;
that they retired from Berber; that Mahmud did not advance in January;
that he advanced in March; that he did not r