Arabs. The latter waited for them, with their front masked by light
troops, presenting twenty-seven battalions deployed in line, the left of
which rested on the Orontes, and the right upon a hamlet at the foot of
a hill. The Egyptians, who were ignorant of the presence of the Turkish
regular infantry, had adopted this vicious disposition against their
irregular cavalry. But no one really commanded among the Turks, and thus
the opportunity of striking a decisive blow was lost. Every colonel had
an opinion of his own. One Pasha wished to retreat, while the European
instructors insisted on an immediate attack. In short, the artillery
even refused to advance to the front. However, Ibrahim Pasha did not
remain inactive; he pressed the Turks closely, doubled his line from
right to left, and pushed forward some battalions on the side of the
Orontes, but they were checked by part of Beker's brigade and two pieces
of cannon. Then the whole Egyptian line halted and opened their fire.
In the course of twenty minutes the left of the Turks suffered
considerably.

Mehemet Pasha resolved to charge the enemy with the bayonet; but instead
of remaining with the second line in order to direct the movement,
he put himself at the head of his soldiers to attack the Arabs, who
immediately formed in column. Before he reached them, he was abandoned
by his artillery, while his cavalry, which should have turned the enemy,
fell back in disorder before a battery which they might have carried.
The second line of infantry did not support the movement with vigour;
and on the Egyptian columns deploying into line, preparatory to a
decisive charge, the whole Turkish army went to the right-about in
the most disgraceful manner, pursued by the enemy's cavalry. It was a
general _sauve qui peut_. The approach of night alone saved the Turkish
army from total destruction. The loss of the Sultan's forces in this
affair amounted to 2,000 killed and 2,500 prisoners.

The wrecks of the Turkish corps retired pell-mell upon Antioch. Instead
of rallying them, Ned-geb Pasha's brigade, which was encamped at two
hours' march from the field of battle, fled with them.

The field-marshal, on learning this disaster, took post at the _tete du
pont_ on Djezzer, on the Orontes. He received the fugitives at the
point of the bayonet, and cut off the heads of the first mutineers who
endeavoured to cross. It was in such moments that Hussein showed himself
to be above the ordinar