tanding on rising ground was
Fadil's house, surrounded by a brick wall, twelve feet high. Here the
Egyptian battalion and camel corps were placed, with the hospital, and
two brass guns which had been found there.

A hundred yards away was another enclosure, with a five-foot wall, and
two hundred yards away a smaller one. The Arab battalion was stationed
to the rear of this, in a square enclosure with a brick wall, twelve
feet high, in which was situated a well. These four buildings were so
placed, that the fire from each covered the approaches to the other.
Two hundred yards from the well enclosure was a fortified house,
surrounded by a high wall. As the latter would need too many men for
its defence, the wall was pulled down, and a detachment placed in the
house.

No time was lost. The whole force was at once employed in pulling down
huts, clearing the ground of the high grass, and forming a zareba round
the town. The greatest cause for anxiety was ammunition. A large
proportion of that carried in the pouches had been expended during the
battle, and the next morning Colonel Parsons, with a small force,
hurried back to Mugatta to fetch up the reserve ammunition, which had
been left there under a guard. He returned with it, three days later.

An abundant supply of provisions had been found in Gedareh, for here
were the magazines, not only of the four thousand men of the garrison
and the women who had been left there, but sufficient for Fadil's army,
on their return. There were three or four wells, and a good supply of
water.

The ammunition arrived just in time; for, on the following morning,
Captain Ruthven's camel men brought in news that Fadil was close at
hand. At half-past eight the Dervishes began the attack, on three sides
of the defences. Sheltered by the long grass, they were able to make
their way to within three hundred yards of the dwellings occupied by
the troops. But the intervening ground had all been cleared, and though
time after time they made rushes forward, they were unable to withstand
the withering fire to which they were exposed.

After an hour's vain efforts their musketry fire ceased; but, half an
hour later, strong reinforcements came up, and the attack recommenced.
This was accompanied with no greater success than the first attack, and
Fadil retired to a palm grove, two miles away. Of the defenders five
men were killed, and Captain Dwyer and thirteen men wounded.

For two days, Fadil end