re the flotilla overtook
them, and henceforward the boats on the river kept pace with the army on
the bank. Fareig was reached on the 14th, and as the numerous palms by
the water afforded a pleasant shade a halt of two days was ordered. On
the 16th the 4th Brigade arrived, and the concentration of the force was
then complete.

After the annihilation of his strong advanced post at Firket, the
Dervish Emir, Wad Bishara, concentrated his remaining forces in Dongola.
Here during the summer he had awaited, and in the middle of August
some small reinforcements under one Emir of low rank reached him from
Omdurman. The Khalifa, indeed, promised that many more should follow,
but his promises long remained unfulfilled, and the greatest strength
that Bishara could muster was 900 Jehadia, 800 Baggara Arabs, 2,800
spearmen, 450 camelmen, 650 cavalry--in all 5,600 men, with six small
brass cannon and one mitrailleuse gun. To augment in numbers, if not
in strength, this small force of regular soldiers, he impressed a large
number of the local tribesmen; but as these were, for the most part,
anxious to join the Government troops at the first opportunity, their
effect in the conflict was inconsiderable.

The first sign that the forces were drawing closer was the cutting of
the telegraph-wire by a Dervish patrol on the 6th of September. On
the 10th the Sirdar heard that Kerma was strongly held. On the 15th
of September the Egyptian cavalry first established contact with the
Dervish scouts, and a slight skirmish took place. On the 18th the whole
force advanced to Sardek, and as Bishara still held his position at
Kerma it looked as if an action was imminent. It was resolved to attack
the Dervish position at Kerma at dawn. Although it seemed that only four
miles separated the combatants, the night passed quietly. With the first
light the army began to move, and when the sun rose the spectacle of the
moving masses of men and artillery, with the gunboats on the right, was
inspiring. The soldiers braced themselves for the expected action. But
no sooner were the village and fort of Kerma visible than the report
passed along the ranks that they were deserted. Rumour was soon merged
in certainty, for on reaching Kerma it was found that the Dervishes had
evacuated the place, and only the strong, well-built mud fort attested
the recent presence of Bishara. Whither had he gone? The question was
not left unanswered.

Half a mile to the southward,