r part, with flags stuck upon them. Also, of
all earthly things in such a spot, an old boiler, such as you may see in
some Thames-side yard, where old vessels are broken up and worn-out
machinery accumulates.

Here the cavalry skirmishers, having done their work, retired to their
main body. Another halt, almost within rifle-shot of the position, and
the men flung themselves carelessly down on the sand. Major Elmfoot was
examining the defences through his field-glass.

"That thing looks like an old boiler, major," said Fitzgerald.

"And it _is_ an old boiler," replied the other. "I was hearing about it
the other day; there was a sugar-mill here once; that ruined building
was part of it."

"Ten-shun!"

The men sprang to their feet all together. The enemy were close, and
there would be serious work in a minute. A flash and a puff of smoke
from the earthworks, a singing in the air, another flash and report
close by, and the fragments of a shell were flying about their ears.
Two more bursting right over, and a man here and there dropped.

Then the rifle-fire opened in earnest, and those who had never yet heard
it learned what the sound of a bullet was like. More men were hit,
collapsed, and were picked up by the ambulance.

Still the square pressed steadily on, the men stepping jauntily as if
marching past. Green said to himself with joy--

"I am under fire, really under fire! And I am not half so frightened as
I thought I should be."

"Mayn't I give them one back, sir?" a man asked him.

"Not yet; presently," he replied.

He had hardly spoken before the words, "Halt! Lie down!" were passed,
and return fire was opened, both from guns and rifles, overpowering and
almost silencing that of the enemy.

"Advance!" Up the men jumped again, and pressed forward towards the
works.

The ground was broken by lumps of rock, bushes, and holes, which made
temporary breaks in the ranks as the men had to give way to pass on
either side of them, and then run up into their places again. Behind
every rock and bush, crouched in every pit or hollow, were Arabs, who
seized the opportunity to dash amongst the men, getting into the very
ranks, and striking with their spears and sharp swords right and left,
and on equal terms.

For the rifle, considered as a firearm, was of no use at such very close
quarters; the bayonet at the end of it, or the butt, was all that could
be used. The bayonet exercise is often spoken of