my could be seen re-entering Omdurman in hundreds. There was no room
for doubt. They must be stopped, and incidentally these small parties in
the plain might be brushed away. We remounted; the ground looked smooth
and unbroken; yet it was desirable to reconnoitre. Two patrols were
sent out. The small parties of Dervishes who were scattered all over the
plain and the slopes of the hill prevented anything less than a squadron
moving, except at their peril. The first patrol struck out towards
Omdurman, and began to push in between the scattered Dervishes, who
fired their rifles and showed great excitement. The other patrol, under
Lieutenant Grenfell, were sent to see what the ground looked like from
further along the ridge and on the lower slopes of Surgham. The riflemen
among the rocks turned their fire from the regiment to these nearer
objects. The five brown figures cantered over the rough ground,
presenting difficult targets, but under continual fire, and disappeared
round the spur. However, in two or three minutes they re-appeared, the
riflemen on the hill making a regular rattle of musketry, amid which the
Lancers galloped safely back, followed last of all by their officer. He
said that the plain looked as safe from the other side of the hill as
from where we were. At this moment the other patrol returned. They, too,
had had good fortune in their adventurous ride. Their information was
exact. They reported that in a shallow and apparently practicable
khor about three-quarters of a mile to the south-west, and between
the regiment and the fugitives, there was drawn up a formed body of
Dervishes about 1,000 strong. Colonel Martin decided on this information
to advance and attack this force, which alone interposed between him and
the Arab line of retreat. Then we started.

But all this time the enemy had been busy. At the beginning of the
battle the Khalifa had posted a small force of 700 men on his extreme
right, to prevent his line of retreat to Omdurman being harassed. This
detachment was composed entirely of the Hadendoa tribesmen of Osman
Digna's flag, and was commanded by one of his subordinate Emirs, who
selected a suitable position in the shallow khor. As soon as the 21st
Lancers left the zeriba the Dervish scouts on the top of Surgham carried
the news to the Khalifa. It was said that the English cavalry were
coming to cut him off from Omdurman. Abdullah thereupon determined to
strengthen his extreme right; and he