where
Colonel Stewart, on his way down with a number of refugees from
Khartoum, was treacherously murdered. A portion of the steamer was
still visible in the river.

Day after day the column plodded on, for the most part strung out in
single file, the line extending over many miles; and, late on the
evening of the 6th of August, they reached a spot within a mile and a
half of Abu Hamed, the hundred and eighteen miles having been
accomplished in seven days and a half.

So far as they knew, the enemy had, as yet, received no news of their
approach. Three hours' rest was given the troops, and then they marched
out, in order of battle.

A fair idea of the position had been obtained from the friendly
natives. Abu Hamed lay on the river. The desert sloped gradually down
to it, on all sides; with a sharp, deep descent within two hundred
yards of the town. The houses were all loopholed, for defence.

When within a mile of the town, they must have been sighted by the
Dervish sentries on a lofty watchtower. No movement, however, was
visible, and there was a general feeling of disappointment, as the
impression gained ground that the enemy had retreated. The 9th and 10th
Soudanese made a sweep round, to attack from the desert side. The 11th,
and half of the Egyptian battalion--the other half having been left to
guard the baggage--followed the course of the river.

Major Kincaid rode forward, to the edge of the steep slope that looked
down to the town. He could see no one moving about. The Dervish
trenches, about eighty yards away, appeared empty; and he was about to
write a message to the General, saying that the place was deserted,
when a sharp fire suddenly opened upon him. He turned to ride back to
warn the General, but he was too late; for, at the same moment, Hunter
with his staff galloped up to the edge of the slope, and was
immediately saluted by a heavy volley; which, however, was fired so
wildly that none of the party was hit.

The artillery were now ordered to bombard the place. At first, they
could only fire at the tops of the houses; but, changing their
position, they found a spot where they could command the town. For half
an hour this continued. The infantry were drawn up just beyond the
brow, where they could not be seen by the defenders. The Dervishes gave
no signs of life, and as the artillery could not depress their guns
sufficiently to enable them to rake the trenches, the infantry were
ordered to charge.