ly exposed, reconnoitring the position.

He did not do this recklessly or out of bravado, but simply because it
was of the utmost importance to gain some idea of their numbers, which
he put at about five or six hundred; not more in the immediate
neighbourhood. It was an uncomfortable position, being cramped up
there, imprisoned in so small a space, but not a dangerous one. The
enemy kept up a dropping fire, which had no effect beyond wasting their
cartridges, though after nightfall it was annoying in two ways; the
English had to bivouac in the cold, for they could not light fires, and
their sleep was disturbed by constant alerts. In the morning there was
a lull, not a shot being fired for some hours. The marksmen went up to
the balcony, but, seeing no chance of a shot, were withdrawn, and only
the look-out man left there. There was some idea that the enemy might
have gone away, and no one would have been sorry; for the wells inside
the zereba were very inefficient, the water being soon exhausted, and a
tedious waiting entailed before the wells filled again. Already the men
had to be put on an allowance, and in that country, where the throat is
always parched, any stint of water is the greatest possible privation.

But just as it was in contemplation to send out an exploring party,
numbers of them were sighted again amongst the more distant bushes, and
it did not go out. Dinner time arrived, and the meal was served out.
Before the men had quite finished two sentries fired shots, and all
sprang to their arms, which were handy; for every man ate, drank, slept
with his rifle close to him, as it was impossible to tell at what moment
he might require it.

In half a minute every man was at the hedge with a cartridge in his
rifle, and that was not too soon, for the Arabs came at a fast run on
two sides simultaneously, and even lapped round and threatened a third.

"Steady, now! Don't shoot till you have your man covered. There's no
hurry. The nearer they are the better!" cried the officers, and
sergeants and corporals seconded them well. Yet the commands were not
necessary, so cool and steady were the men. It was as if they had been
waiting so long for a chance, that they were afraid of wasting it now
they had got it. Nothing could be more deliberate than the way they
aimed.

"Why did you not fire then, Macintosh?" Sergeant Barton happened to
ask; "you had a fair chance," the Arab being about forty yards off,