WARS OF THE NINETIES. 138 This day the 21st Lancers, who had hitherto been engaged in escort duties,for the first time formed part of the advanced cavalry screen. The march lay through a tract of river bank covered in places with great masses of primosa scrub, in which the enemy could easily be concealed. The vanguard of theLancers, under Lieutenant de Montmorency, had gone about four miles south of an isolatedrocky hillknown as Seg-el-Teib, when they came upon a patrol of Dervish horsemen. As usual, the Dervishes gallopedoff, butthis time they had supportnear at hand.

it was merely an advanced post of the main Dervish army,and the Emir in command had no intention of making a prolonged defence,so when oneof the gunboatscame up and beganto drop shells into the bush along the height, the thirty banners disappeared, the whole force retiring behind the Kerreri Hills, across the bushyr hollowof Wady Suetne.

On the 30th, while the army made another short march in advance, four of the gunboats — the Sultan, flying Keppel's flag, the Mclik, commanded by Gordon, the Futteh, and the Nasir— steamed on till they were abreast of Kerreri. While the hills were searched with telescope and field-glass, the quick-firing guns sent a number of shells into a hollow of the hills, where it was supposed the Dervishes had a camp. The positions of the Dervish forts on the riverside belowKhartoum wereverified, and now everything was ready for the final advance to the attack.

As the Lancers followed them a line of some thirty red and white banners was seen along a rising ground close in front, drumswere heardbeating, and a shot was fired from a heavy elephant rifle. TheLieutenant with twoof his troopers had by this time ridden out in advance of his men, when he was charged by half-adozen mountedDervishes. He killed the leader with a shot from his revolver,and the rest rode back towards the banners with the riderless horse.

It was decided that the flotilla should attack and destroy the forts, and that meanwhile Stuart-Wortley and his friendlies should cleai the ground near Halfiya, on the east bank, while the Sirdar with the main army marched on to Kerreri. The great battle was now, at furthest, only two or three days off. The persistent retreatof the Dervish outposts seemed to confirm the tale told by the refugeesthat the Khalifa would probably decline to risk a battle in the open, and only make a stand behind the fortifications ofOmdurman.

The Lancershad nowbeenreinforced,andsent a patrol through the bush tow/ardsthe leftof the Dervishposition. Thispatrolsawabodyof about two hundredof the enemy's cavalry retiring in that direction. As well as could be seen,there was infantry (probably dismounted camelmen), as wellas cavalry,holding the lowhill in front; and though the position was not an extensive one,it seemed to be strongly garrisoned. But