dread of
them, and are able to face them steadily."

There was only the faintest light in the sky, when firing broke out in
front. Everyone leapt to his feet, and stood listening intently. Was it
merely some Dervish scouts, who had come in contact with our pickets,
or was it an attacking force?

The firing increased in volume, and was evidently approaching. The
pickets, then, were being driven in, and the Dervishes were going to
attack. The men were ordered to lie down, in the position in which they
were to fight. In five minutes after the first shot all were ready for
action, the pickets had run in; and, in the dim light, numbers of dark
figures could be made out.

The guns and Maxims at once spoke out, while the infantry fired
volleys. It was still too dark to make out the movements of the enemy,
but their reply to our fire came louder and louder on our left, and it
was apparent that the intention of the Dervishes was to turn that flank
of our position.

Colonel Wingate sent Gregory, to order the guns to turn their fire more
in that direction; and other officers ordered our right to advance
somewhat, while the left were slightly thrown back, and pushed farther
out. The light was now getting brighter, and heavy bodies of Dervishes,
shouting and firing, rushed forward; but they were mown down by grape
from our guns, a storm of Maxim bullets, and the steady volleys of the
infantry. They wavered for a moment, and then gradually fell back.

The bugles sounded the advance and, with a cheer, our whole line moved
forward down the gentle slope; quickening their pace as the enemy
retired before them, and still keeping up a heavy fire towards the
clump of trees that concealed the Dervish camp from sight. The enemy's
fire had now died out. At twenty-five minutes past six the "cease fire"
was sounded and, as the troops advanced, it was evident that resistance
was at an end.

As they issued through the trees, many Dervishes ran forward and
surrendered, and thousands of women and children were found in the
camp. Happily, none of these had been injured, as a slight swell in the
ground had prevented our bullets from falling among them. Numbers of
Dervishes who had passed through now turned and surrendered, and the
cavalry and camel corps started in pursuit.

Gregory had learned, from the women, that the Emir El Khatim, with a
number of his trained men from El Obeid, had passed through the camp in
good order, but that none of