had
obliged Ahmed Fedil to withdraw, and at 3.30 on the afternoon of the
21st the expedition started in a south-westerly direction upon the track
of the enemy.

The troops bivouacked some ten miles south-west of Fashi Shoya, and
then marched in bright moonlight to Nefisa, encountering only a Dervish
patrol of about ten men. At Nefisa was found the evacuated camp of Ahmed
Fedil, containing a quantity of grain which he had collected from the
riverain district, and, what was of more value, a sick but intelligent
Dervish who stated that the Emir had just moved to Abu Aadel, five miles
further on. This information was soon confirmed by Mahmud Hussein,
an Egyptian officer, who with an irregular patrol advanced boldly in
reconnaissance. The infantry needed a short rest to eat a little food,
and Sir Reginald Wingate ordered Colonel Mahon to press on immediately
with the whole of the mounted troops and engage the enemy, so as to
prevent him retreating before an action could be forced.

Accordingly cavalry, Camel Corps, Maxims, and irregulars--whose
fleetness of foot enabled them, though not mounted, to keep pace with
the rest--set off at their best pace: and after them at 9.15 hurried the
infantry, refreshed by a drink at the water tanks and a hasty meal.
As they advanced the scrub became denser, and all were in broken and
obstructed ground when, at about ten o'clock, the sound of Maxim firing
and the patter of musketry proclaimed that Mahon had come into contact.
The firing soon became more rapid, and as the infantry approached it was
evident that the mounted troops were briskly engaged. The position which
they occupied was a low ridge which rose a little above the level of the
plain and was comparatively bare of scrub; from this it was possible
at a distance of 800 yards to overlook the Dervish encampment huddled
around the water pools. It was immediately evident that the infantry and
the battery were arriving none too soon. The Dervishes, who had hitherto
contented themselves with maintaining a ragged and desultory fire from
the scrub, now sallied forth into the open and delivered a most bold and
determined charge upon the guns. The intervening space was little
more than 200 yards, and for a moment the attack looked as if it might
succeed. But upon the instant the IXth and XIIIth Soudanese, who had
been doubled steadily for upwards of two miles, came into line,
filling the gap between Mahon's guns and dismounted Camel Corps