w from this point, the British officers, looking through their
field-glasses, saw what appeared to be a long column of brown spots
moving south-westwards across the wide plain which stretches away to the
west of Omdurman. The telescope, an invaluable aid to reconnaissance,
developed the picture. The brown objects proved to be troops of horses
grazing; and beyond, to the southward, camels and white flapping tents
could be distinguished. There were no signs that a retreat was in
progress; but from such a distance--nearly four miles--no certain
information could be obtained, and Colonel Broadwood decided to advance
closer. He accordingly led his whole command south-westward towards
a round-topped hill which rose about four miles from the end of the
Kerreri ridge and was one of the more distant hill features bounding the
plain on the western side. The Egyptian cavalry moved slowly across the
desert to this new point of observation. On their way they traversed the
end of the Khor Shambat, a long depression which is the natural drainage
channel of the plains of Kerreri and Omdurman, and joins the Nile about
four miles from the city. The heavy rain of the previous night had made
the low ground swampy, and pools of water stood in the soft, wet sand.
The passage, however, presented no great difficulty, and at half-past
eleven the Egyptian squadrons began to climb the lower slopes of the
round-topped hill. Here the whole scene burst suddenly upon them.
Scarcely three miles away the Dervish army was advancing with the
regularity of parade. The south wind carried the martial sound of horns
and drums and--far more menacing--the deep murmur of a multitude to the
astonished officers. Like the 21st Lancers--three miles away to their
left, at the end of the long sandy ridge which runs westward from
Surgham--the soldiers remained for a space spell-bound. But all eyes
were soon drawn from the thrilling spectacle of the Dervish advance by
the sound of guns on the river.

At about eleven o'clock the gunboats had ascended the Nile, and now
engaged the enemy's batteries on both banks. Throughout the day the loud
reports of their guns could be heard, and, looking from our position
on the ridge, we could see the white vessels steaming slowly forward
against the current, under clouds of black smoke from their furnaces and
amid other clouds of white smoke from the artillery. The forts, which
mounted nearly fifty guns, replied vigorously; but the B