they were
effectually checked by the charge of a squadron under Major Mahon.

Both gunboats, having watched the Camel Corps safely into the zeriba,
now returned with the current and renewed their attack upon the Arabs.
Opening a heavy and accurate fire upon the river flank, they drove them
westward and away from the Nile. Through the gap thus opened Broadwood
and his squadrons trotted to rejoin the main body, picking up on the way
the two guns which had been abandoned.

While these things were passing on the northern flank, the frontal
attack was in progress. The debris of the 'White Flags' joined the
centre, and the whole 14,000 pressed forward against the zeriba,
spreading out by degrees and abandoning their dense formations, and
gradually slowing down. At about 800 yards from the British division the
advance ceased, and they could make no headway. Opposite the Soudanese,
who were armed only with the Martini-Henry rifle, the assailants came
within 300 yards; and one brave old man, carrying a flag, fell at 150
paces from the shelter trench. But the result was conclusive all along
the line. The attack was shattered. The leader, clad in his new jibba
of many colours, rode on steadfastly towards the inexorable firing line,
until, pierced by several bullets, he fell lifeless. Such was the end of
that stubborn warrior of many fights--wicked Osman Azrak, faithful
unto death. The surviving Dervishes lay down on the ground. Unable
to advance, they were unwilling to retire; and their riflemen, taking
advantage of the folds of the plain, opened and maintained an unequal
combat. By eight o'clock it was evident that the whole attack had
failed. The loss of the enemy was more than 2,000 killed, and perhaps as
many wounded. To the infantry, who were busy with their rifles, it had
scarcely seemed a fight. Yet all along the front bullets had whizzed
over and into the ranks, and in every battalion there were casualties.
Captain Caldecott, of the Warwicks, was killed; the Camerons had two
officers, Captain Clarke and Lieutenant Nicholson, severely wounded; the
Grenadiers one, Captain Bagot. Colonel F. Rhodes, as he sat on his horse
near the Maxim battery of the 1st British Brigade, was shot through
the shoulder and carried from the field just as the attack reached its
climax. There were, besides these officers, about 150 casualties among
the soldiers.

The attack languished. The enemy's rifle fire continued, and as soon as
the heavy