ight was spread over every part of the
field of siege. Ali Wad Hei's men had gathered themselves together after
the first deadly onslaught, and were fighting fiercely, shouting the
Muslim battle-cry, "Allah hu achbar!" Able to bring up reinforcements,
the great losses at first sustained were soon made up, and the sheer
weight of numbers gave them courage and advantage. By rushes with lance
and sword and rifle they were able, at last, to drive David's men back
upon their old defences with loss. Then charge upon charge ensued, and
each charge, if it cost them much, cost the besieged more, by reason of
their fewer numbers. At one point, however, the besieged became again
the attacking party. This was where Achmet Pasha had command. His men on
one side of the circle, as Ebn Ezra Bey's men on the other, fought with
a valour as desperate as the desert ever saw. But David, galloping here
and there to order, to encourage, to prevent retreat at one point, or
to urge attack at another, saw that the doom of his gallant force was
certain; for the enemy were still four to one, in spite of the carnage
of the first attack. Bullets hissed past him. One carried away a button,
one caught the tip of his ear, one pierced the fez he wore; but he
felt nothing of this, saw nothing. He was buried in the storm of battle
preparing for the end, for the final grim defence, when his men would
retreat upon the one last strong fort, and there await their fate. From
this absorption he was roused by Lacey, who came galloping towards him.

"They've come, Saadat, they've come at last! We're saved--oh, my God,
you bet we're all right now! See! See, Saadat!"

David saw. Five steamers carrying the Egyptian flag were bearing around
the point where the river curved below the town, and converging upon
David's small fleet. Presently the steamers opened fire, to encourage
the besieged, who replied with frenzied shouts of joy, and soon there
poured upon the sands hundreds of men in the uniform of the Effendina.
These came forward at the double, and, with a courage which nothing
could withstand, the whole circle spread out again upon the discomfited
tribes of Ali Wad Hei. Dismay, confusion, possessed the Arabs. Their
river-watchers had failed them, God had hidden His face from them; and
when Ali Wad Hei and three of his emirs turned and rode into the desert,
their forces broke and ran also, pursued by the relentless men who had
suffered the tortures of siege so lo