etire before the battle of
the Atbara; that the Khalifa did not hold the Shabluka; that he did not
attack on the night before Omdurman, and that he did attack at dawn.

But after Firket all things were contrary. One unexpected misfortune
succeeded another. Difficulties were replaced by others as soon as
they had been overcome. The autumn of 1896 was marked by delay and
disappointment. The state of the Nile, the storms, the floods,
the cholera, and many minor obstacles, vexed but did not weary the
commander. The victory at Firket was succeeded by a long pause in the
operations. The army had made one spring forward; it must now gather
energy for another. The preparations, however, proceeded rapidly. A
strong camp was formed at Firket. MacDonald's brigade occupied Suarda
two days after the fight, and this place now became the advanced
post, just as Akasha had been in the first phase of the campaign. The
accumuluation of stores at Firket and Suarda began forthwith. Owing
to the arrangements which had been made before the engagement it was
possible to collect within one week of the action two months' supplies
at Suarda for the garrison of 2,000 men, and one month's at Firket for
the 7,000 troops encamped there. Thereafter, however, the necessity of
hurrying the railway construction and the considerable daily demands of
9,000 men only allowed this margin to be increased very gradually.

The army had now passed beyond the scope of a camel, or other
pack-animal, system of supply, except for very short distances, and
it was obvious that they could only advance in future along either the
railway or a navigable reach of the river, and preferably along both.
From the Dal Cataract near Kosheh there is a clear waterway at high Nile
to Merawi. To Kosheh, therefore, the railway must be extended before
active operations could recommence. A third condition had also to be
observed. For the expulsion of the Dervishes from Kerma and Dongola it
was desirable that a flotilla of gunboats should co-operate with the
land forces. Four of these vessels--the Tamai, El Teb, the Metemma, and
the Abu Klea; and three steamers--the Kaibar, Dal, and Akasha, which it
was proposed to arm--had, since 1885, patrolled the river from Assuan to
Wady Halfa, and assisted in protecting the frontier from Dervish raids.
All seven were now collected at the foot of the Second Cataract, and
awaited the rise of the river to attempt the passage. To strengthen
the flotil