ed their movements, but were too late to prevent
the hill from being seized.

The Arab battalion had been leading, followed by the Egyptians; while
the irregulars, divided into two bodies under Arab chiefs, guarded the
hospital and baggage. The Dervishes at once advanced to the attack of
the hill, and the column wheeled into line, to meet it. Even on the
crest of the hill, the grass was breast high, but it did not impede the
view of the advancing lines of the Dervishes. Into these a heavy and
destructive fire was at once poured. The enemy, however, pushed on,
firing in return; but being somewhat out of breath, from the rapidity
with which they had marched; and seeing nothing of the defenders of the
hill, save their heads, they inflicted far less loss than they were
themselves suffering.

The fight was continuing, when Colonel Parsons saw that a force of
about three hundred Dervishes had worked round the back of the hill,
with the intention of falling upon the baggage. He at once sent one of
the Arab sheiks to warn Captain Fleming; who, from his position, was
unable to see the approaching foe. Colonel Parsons had asked Gregory to
take up his position with the baggage, as he foresaw that, with their
vastly greater numbers, it was likely that the Dervishes might sweep
round and attack it.

Scarcely had the messenger arrived with the news, when the Dervishes
came rushing on through the high grass. In spite of the shouts of
Doctor Fleming and Gregory, the escort of one hundred and twenty
irregular Arabs, stationed at this point, at once broke and fled.
Happily, a portion of the camel corps, with its commander, Captain
Ruthven, a militia officer, was close at hand. Though he had but
thirty-four of these old soldiers with him, he rushed forward to meet
the enemy. Doctor Fleming and Gregory joined him and, all cheering to
encourage the Soudanese, made a determined stand.

Gregory and Zaki kept up a steady fire with their Remingtons, and
picked off several of the most determined of their assailants. The
fight, however, was too unequal; the Dervishes got in behind them, and
cut off the rear portion of the transport; and the little band,
fighting obstinately, fell back, with their faces to the foe, towards
the main body.

One of the native officers of the Soudanese fell. Captain Ruthven, a
very powerful man, ran back and lifted the wounded soldier, and made
his way towards his friends. So closely pressed was he, by the
Derv