as I had been, for weeks before that, aiding him to
the best of my powers, and there were no other officers to spare, Hicks
asked me to take his place. As I had done everything I could for the
poor fellows' comfort, on the march; they had come to like me, and to
obey my orders as promptly as those of their former commander.

"As long as the other two sides of the square stood firm, I did so; but
they soon gave way. I saw Hicks, with his staff, charge into the midst
of the Dervishes, and then lost sight of them. Seeing that all was
lost, I called to my men to keep together, to march off in regular
order, and repel all assaults, as this was the only hope there was of
getting free.

"They obeyed my orders splendidly. Two or three times the Dervishes
charged upon them, but the blacks were as steady as rocks, and their
volleys were so fatal that the enemy finally left us alone, preferring
to aid in the slaughter of the panic-stricken Egyptians, and to share
the spoil.

"We made for the wells. Each man drank his fill. Those who had water
bottles filled them. We then marched on towards El Obeid, but before
nightfall the Dervish horse had closed up round us. At daylight their
infantry had also arrived, and fighting began.

"All day we held our position, killing great numbers, but losing many
men ourselves. By night, our water was exhausted. Then the soldiers
offered to attack the enemy, but they were twenty to one against us,
and I said to them, 'No, fight one day longer, if we can hold on. The
Dervishes may retire, or they may offer us terms.'

"So we stood. By the next evening, we had lost half our number. After
they had drawn off, one of the Dervish emirs came in with a white flag,
and offered life to all who would surrender, and would wear the badge
of the Mahdi, and be his soldiers. I replied that an answer should be
given in the morning. When he had left, I gathered the men together.

"'You have fought nobly,' I said, 'but you have scarce a round of
ammunition left. If we fight again tomorrow, we shall all be
slaughtered. I thank you, in the name of the Khedive, for all that you
have done; but I do not urge you to reject the terms offered. Your
deaths would not benefit the Khedive. As far as I am concerned, you are
free to accept the terms offered.'

"They talked for some time together, and then the three native officers
who were still alive came forward.

"'Bimbashi,' they said, 'what will be done about you? We