nd.
He harangued the leaders; and remained encamped with his troops during
the night. The next day all the male population of the city were
compelled to join the army in the field, and only the gunners and
garrisons on the river-face remained within. In spite, however, of his
utmost vigilance, nearly 6,000 men deserted during the nights of the
31st of August and the 1st of September. This and the detachments in the
forts reduced the force actually engaged in the battle to 52,000 men.
The host that now advanced towards the British and Egyptian cavalry was
perhaps 4,000 stronger.

Their array was regular and precise, and, facing northeast, stretched
for more than four miles from flank to flank. A strong detachment of the
mulazemin or guard was extended in front of the centre. Ali-Wad-Helu,
with his bright green flag, prolonged the line to the left; and his
5,000 warriors, chiefly of the Degheim and Kenana tribes, soon began to
reach out towards the Egyptian cavalry. The centre and main force of the
army was composed of the regular troops, formed in squares under Osman
Sheikh-ed-Din and Osman Azrak. This great body comprised 12,000 black
riflemen and about 13,000 black and Arab spearmen. In their midst rose
the large, dark green flag which the Sheikh-ed-Din had adopted to annoy
Ali-Wad-Helu, of whose distinctive emblem he was inordinately jealous.
The Khalifa with his own bodyguard, about 2,000 strong, followed the
centre. In rear of all marched Yakub with the Black Flag and 13,000
men--nearly all swordsmen and spearmen, who with those extended in front
of the army constituted the guard. The right wing was formed by the
brigade of the Khalifa Sherif, consisting of 2,000 Danagla tribesmen,
whose principal ensign was a broad red flag. Osman Digna, with about
1,700 Hadendoa, guarded the extreme right and the flank nearest
Omdurman, and his fame needed no flag. Such was the great army which now
moved swiftly towards the watching squadrons; and these, pausing on the
sandy ridge, pushed out a fringe of tentative patrols, as if to assure
themselves that what they saw was real.

The Egyptian cavalry had meanwhile a somewhat different view of the
spectacle. Working on the right of the 21st Lancers, and keeping further
from the river, the leading squadrons had reached the extreme western
end of the Kerreri ridge at about seven o'clock. From here the Mahdi's
Tomb was visible, and, since the rocks of Surgham did not obstruct
the vie