iving this, the IXth
Soudanese, who were the regiment in column on the right of the original
front, wheeled to the right from column into line without waiting for
orders, so that two battalions faced towards the Khalifa and two
towards the fresh attack. By this time it was clear that the Khalifa
was practically repulsed, and MacDonald ordered the Xth Soudanese and
another battery to change front and prolong the line of the IXth and
XIth. He then moved the 2nd Egyptians diagonally to their right front,
so as to close the gap at the angle between their line and that of the
three other battalions. These difficult manoeuvres were carried out
under a heavy fire, which in twenty minutes caused over 120 casualties
in the four battalions--exclusive of the losses in the artillery
batteries--and in the face of the determined attacks of an enemy who
outnumbered the troops by seven to one and had only to close with them
to be victorious. Amid the roar of the firing and the dust, smoke, and
confusion of the change of front, the general found time to summon
the officers of the IXth Soudanese around him, rebuked them for having
wheeled into line in anticipation of his order, and requested them to
drill more steadily in brigade.

The three Soudanese battalions were now confronted with the whole fury
of the Dervish attack from Kerreri. The bravery of the blacks was no
less conspicuous than the wildness of their musketry. They evinced an
extraordinary excitement--firing their rifles without any attempt to
sight or aim, and only anxious to pull the trigger, re-load, and pull
it again. In vain the British officers strove to calm their impulsive
soldiers. In vain they called upon them by name, or, taking their rifles
from them, adjusted the sights themselves. The independent firing was
utterly beyond control. Soon the ammunition began to be exhausted, and
the soldiers turned round clamouring for more cartridges, which their
officers doled out to them by twos and threes in the hopes of steadying
them. It was useless. They fired them all off and clamoured for more.
Meanwhile, although suffering fearfully from the close and accurate fire
of the three artillery batteries and eight Maxim guns, and to a less
extent from the random firing of the Soudanese, the Dervishes drew
nearer in thousands, and it seemed certain that there would be an actual
collision. The valiant blacks prepared themselves with delight to
meet the shock, notwithstanding the