s not large, and although it
had now become the most northerly Dervish position, only a
slender reinforcement was added to the force under the command of
Mohammed-ez-Zein.

The power of the gunboats and their effect in the Dongola campaign were
fully appreciated by the Arabs; and the Khalifa, in the hopes of closing
the Sixth Cataract, began to construct several forts at the northern end
of the Shabluka gorge. The Bordein, one of Gordon's old steamers, plied
busily between Omdurman and Wad Hamed, transporting guns and stores; and
Ahmed Fedil was sent with a sufficient force to hold the works when they
were made. But the prophecy of the Mahdi exercised a powerful effect on
the Khalifa's mind, and while he neglected no detail he based his
hopes on the issue of a great battle on the plains of Kerreri, when
the invaders should come to the walls of the city. With this prospect
continually before him he drilled and organised the increasing army at
Omdurman with the utmost regularity, and every day the savage soldiery
practised their evolutions upon the plain they were presently to strew
with their bodies.

But after a while it became apparent that the 'Turks' were not
advancing. They tarried on the lands they had won. The steamers went no
further than Merawi. The iron road stopped at Kerma. Why had they not
followed up their success? Obviously because they feared the army that
awaited them at Omdurman. At this the Khalifa took fresh courage, and
in January 1897 he began to revolve schemes for taking the offensive and
expelling the invaders from the Dongola province. The army drilled and
manoeuvred continually on the plains of Kerreri; great numbers of camels
were collected at Omdurman; large stores of dried kisru or 'Soudan
biscuit,' the food of Dervishes on expeditions, were prepared.

The Sirdar did not remain in ignorance of these preparations. The
tireless enterprise of the Intelligence Branch furnished the most
complete information; and preparations were made to concentrate the
troops in Dongola on any threatened point, should the enemy advance.
Regular reconnaissances were made by the cavalry both into the desert
towards Gakdul Wells and along the river. Towards the end of May it was
reported that the Emir Yunes had crossed the Nile and was raiding the
villages on the left bank below Abu Hamed. In consequence the Sirdar
ordered a strong patrol under Captain Le Gallais, and consisting of
three squadrons of cavalry und