THE RECONOUEST OF THE SOUDAN 09 Gatacre called to the nearest of his comrades, Private Cross, to give the Dervish the bayonet, and before the shot could be fired the rifleman fell back, run through the chest by the stalwart Cameron's steel. And now Highlanders and Lincolns wentpouring in through the gaps they had torn in the zereba. All the while from the hede, from a stockade within, from trenches and pits, the Mahdist riflemen poured in the hottestfire that had ever been faced by British troopsin the Soudan. The losshad been heavy, beginning of the close sight. Just inside, Staff-Sergeant Wyatt, whocarriedGatacre's flag, was hit above the knee by a large bullet from an elephant rifle, and fell seriously wounded. Another sergeant took up the Union Jack and again displayed it. The flag certainly drew a heavy fire from the Dervishes— it was torn by three bullets, and many of the Camerons who fell werestruck near it. Considering that there is an order in our army that regimental colours are not tobe carried in battleon account of the but everyone felt that once the barriers were passed andit was a matter of hand-to-hand fighting the balance would be turned, and the loss would be on the other side. But let us not forget that this fight inside the zereba at the Atbara river was a fair trial of armsbetweenMahmoud's fanatic warriors and the Sirdar's British, Soudanese, and Egyptian regulars. Quick - firing guns and repeating-rifles reduce afight in the open with barbarians to something ver'c like a battue. But it is otherwise when it comes to a struggle at close quarters with cold steel, 'peai against bayonet. If anything, the lightly - clad Dervish. with his broadbladed spear and unenwayin which theyattract fire, it seems doubtful policy to have put a conspicuous flag on this occasionin the very front of the attack. No doubt it was an inspiriting sigtit to those who followed it, but does anyone supposethat the Camerons would not have charged as bravely and as well even if there had been no banner flying beside their general?

In the rush over the innci stockade and treni ti two of their captains were killed. Captain hindlay, a giant in si/e and strength, had leaped the trench in front of his company, using his sword and revolver at oni e, when he was shot dead by a Dervish in a riflepit beyond. Close by, Captain Urquhart, at the CAPTAIN R. C. URQUHART (KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF THE ATBARA).

(Photo: .'Jiliir, Turriff, A'./?.)

cumbered by belts, accoutrements and a load of cartridges, is in slightly better condition lor fighting than the regular soldier, whose -pear is a bayonet fixed on the clumsy shaft provided by a heavy rifle. And in thistrial of strength both British and Egyptian infantryproved themselves ''first-rate fighting men."

Of the individualdeeds of valour done by the black troops the correspondents have noted verylittle, hut a the British brigade did its work, how our men fought and fell, we have abundant detail in the despatches from the journalist' who watchedthe fight, and in letters home fromofficers and men. Mahmoud's camp was a strangely-complicated network of defences, and the passing of the zerebahedge was but the headof thenextcompany,had hishelmetknocked oil by a bullet,and the next moment fell, -hot through the bodvby a rifleman who stood only a iew feet from him. 'she Dervish was instantly bayoneted. Urquhart was still living, though mortally wounded. His men stopped to raise him up, but he told them lo leave him lying wherehe was. " Never mind me, my lads,'' he said; "go on, Company F." These were his last words. General Gatacre, sword in hand, was fighting hard m the midst of the struggling crowd ot Dervishes and Highlanders. One ol the enemy tried to spear him,but the General parried the broad blade and ran the Mahdist through.

Beyond the stockade the battle became :