way to Dakhila, at eleven o'clock
on Christmas night. Here they bivouacked until 3 A.M. on the 26th, when
the march was resumed in the same straggling order through the same
tangled scrub. Daylight found them still several miles from the Dervish
position, and it was not until eight o'clock that the enemy's outposts
were discovered. After a few shots the Arab picket fell back, and the
advance guard, hurrying after them, emerged from the forest upon the
open ground of the river bank, broken only by palms and patches of high
grass. Into this space the whole column gradually debouched. Before them
the Blue Nile, shining in the early sunlight like a silver band, flowed
swiftly; and beyond its nearest waters rose a long, bare, gravel island
crowned with clumps of sandhills, to the shelter of which several
hundred Dervishes, surprised by the sudden arrival of the troops,
were scampering. Beyond the island, on the tall tree-clad cliff of the
further bank, other minute figures moved and bustled. The discordant
sound of horns and drums floating across the waters, and the unfurling
of many bright flags, proclaimed the presence and the intention of the
hostile force.

The Dervish position was well chosen and of great defensive strength. A
little to the north of Dakhila the Blue Nile bifurcates--one rapid but
shallow stream flowing fairly straight under the east bank; another very
deep stream running in a wide curve under the west bank, cutting into
it so that it is precipitous. These two branches of the river enclose
an island a mile and a quarter long by 1,400 yards wide, and on this
island, surrounded by a natural moat of swiftly flowing water, was the
Dervish dem. The western side of the island rose into a line of low
sandhills covered with scrub and grass, with a steep reverse slope
towards the foreshore of the river-bank; and here, in this excellent
cover, what eventually proved to be three-quarters of the force of Ahmed
Fedil were drawn up. Backed against the deep arm of the river they
had no choice, nor indeed any other wish, but to fight. Before them
stretched a bare slope of heavy shingle, 1,000 yards wide, over
which their enemies must advance to the attack, Behind them the high
precipitous west bank of the river, which rose in some places to a
height of fifty feet, was lined with the 300 riflemen who had already
crossed; and from this secure position Ahmed Fedil and four of his Emirs
were able to watch, assist, and dire