hey trudged patiently along
in the rear of the columns, and formed an encampment of their own, half
a mile away from the men's, generally selecting a piece of ground
surrounded by thick bush, into which they could escape, should Dervish
raiders come down upon them.

The stores arrived in due course. One of the gunboats, however, was
missing--the Zafir, with three gyasses in tow, having suddenly sunk,
ten miles north of Shendy, owing to being so deeply loaded that the
water got into the hold. Those on board had just time to scramble into
the boats, or swim to shore. No lives were lost, though there were many
narrow escapes. Among these were Commander Keppel and Prince Christian
Victor, who were on board. Fortunately, another steamer soon came along
and took the gyasses, with the ship-wrecked officers and crew on board,
and towed them up to El Hejir.

It had been intended to stay here some little time, but the Nile
continued to rise to an altogether exceptional height, and part of the
camp was flooded. At five o'clock, therefore, the Egyptian brigades
started, with the guns on their right and the steamers covering their
left, while the cavalry and camel corps were spread widely out, in
advance to give notice of any approaching Dervish force. As usual the
soldiers' wives turned out, and as the battalions marched past, shouted
encouragement to their husbands; calling upon them to behave like men,
and not to turn back in battle. The presence of the women had an
excellent effect on the soldiers, and in addition to their assistance
in carrying their effects, they cooked their rations, and looked after
them generally. The Sirdar, therefore, did not discourage their
presence in the field, and even supplied them with rations, when it was
impossible for them to obtain them elsewhere.

In the afternoon the two white brigades also moved forward. At nine
o'clock they arrived at their camping ground, and the whole army was
again collected together. Next morning the four squadrons of Egyptian
horse, with a portion of the cavalry, went forward to reconnoitre, and
one of the gunboats proceeded a few miles up the river. Neither saw
anything of the enemy.

There had been heavy rain during the night. This had ceased at
daybreak, and a strong wind speedily dried the sands, raising such
clouds of dust that it was difficult to see above a few yards. The
storm had also the effect of hindering the flotilla.

On the other side of the river,