lasses scanned the sandy horizon for the first signs of the
enemy. But the skyline remained unbroken, except by the wheeling dust
devils, and gradually the excitement abated, and the British brigade
began to regret all the useful articles they had scrupulously left
behind them at Dabeika, when they marched in a hurry and the lightest
possible order to Kunur.

On the 19th of March the gunboats reported that the Dervishes were
leaving the Nile, and Mahmud's flanking movement became apparent.
The next day the whole force at Kunur marched across the desert angle
between the rivers to Hudi. The appearance of the army would have
been formidable. The cavalry, the Camel Corps, and the Horse Artillery
covered the front and right flank; the infantry, with the British on the
right, moved in line of brigade masses; the transport followed. All was,
however, shrouded in a fearful dust-storm. The distance, ten miles,
was accomplished in five hours, and the army reached Hudi in time to
construct a strong zeriba before the night. Here they were joined from
Atbara fort by Lewis's brigade of Egyptians--with the exception of
the 15th Battalion, which was left as garrison--and the troops at the
Sirdar's disposal were thus raised to 14,000 men of all arms. This force
was organised as follows:

Commander-in-Chief: THE SIRDAR

British Brigade: MAJOR-GENERAL GATACRE

1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (6 companies)
" " Lincolnshire Regiment
" " Seaforth Highlanders
" " Cameron Highlanders

Egyptian Infantry Division: MAJOR-GENERAL HUNTER

1st Brigade 2nd Brigade 3rd Brigade
LIEUT.-COL. MAXWELL LIEUT.-COL. MACDONALD LIEUT.-COL. LEWIS
8th Egyptians 2nd Egyptians 3rd Egyptians
XIIth Soudanese IXth Soudanese 4th "
XIIIth " Xth " 7th "
XIVth " XIth "

Cavalry: LIEUT.-COL. BROADWOOD

8 squadrons
2 Maxim guns

Camel Corps: MAJOR TUDWAY

6 companies

Artillery: LIEUT.-COL. LONG

Detachment, No. 16 Company, E Division R.A.,
with 6 five-inch B.L. howitzers
Egyptian Horse Battery (6 guns)
Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Field Batteries Egyptian Army (18 guns)
British Maxim Battery (4 guns)
Rocket Detachment (2 sections)

Mahmud had early intelligence of the movement of the Anglo-Egyptian
army. His ori