the first
ineffectual blow it fell from his hand, and he received another wound
from a spear in the chest. But his solitary charge had checked the
pursuing Dervishes. Lieutenant Molyneux regained his squadron alive, and
the trooper, seeing that his object was attained, galloped away, reeling
in his saddle. Arrived at his troop, his desperate condition was noticed
and he was told to fall out. But this he refused to do, urging that he
was entitled to remain on duty and have 'another go at them.' At length
he was compelled to leave the field, fainting from loss of blood.

Lieutenant Nesham had an even more extraordinary escape than Molyneux.
He had scrambled out of the khor when, as his horse was nearly stopping,
an Arab seized his bridle. He struck at the man with his sword, but
did not prevent him cutting his off-rein. The officer's bridle-hand,
unexpectedly released, flew out, and, as it did so, a swordsman at a
single stroke nearly severed it from his body. Then they cut at him
from all sides. One blow sheared through his helmet and grazed his head.
Another inflicted a deep wound in his right leg. A third, intercepted
by his shoulder-chains, paralysed his right arm. Two more, missing
him narrowly, cut right through the cantel of the saddle and into the
horse's back. The wounded subaltern--he was the youngest of all--reeled.
A man on either side seized his legs to pull him to the ground; but
the long spurs stuck into the horse's flanks, and the maddened animal,
throwing up its head and springing forward, broke away from the crowd
of foes, and carried the rider--bleeding, fainting, but still alive--to
safety among the rallying squadrons. Lieutenant Nesham's experience was
that of the men who were killed, only that he escaped to describe it.

The wounded were sent with a small escort towards the river and
hospitals. An officer was despatched with the news to the Sirdar, and
on the instant both cannonade and fusillade broke out again behind the
ridge, and grew in a crashing crescendo until the whole landscape seemed
to vibrate with the sound of explosions. The second phase of the battle
had begun.

Even before the 21st Lancers had reconnoitred Surgham ridge, the Sirdar
had set his brigades in motion towards Omdurman. He was determined, even
at a very great risk, to occupy the city while it was empty and before
the army in the plain could return to defend it. The advantage might be
tremendous. Nevertheless the movement wa