-.-3?

"'SlopI' JOL'CHED A ROCK.''

CHAPTER VII.

THE OCCUPATION OF DONGOLA, IROM Hafir toDongola isalittleoverthirty-H <L,X mdes. Bishara had left a small force to guard the place, but these fled on the approach of thegunboats. Colville's flotilla could not land anyconsiderablenumber of men, so he had to content himself with securing a lot of boat-, with which he returned to the reach of the river nearHafir.

Thee boats were a useful addition to the flotilla of feluccas, barges, raits, and steamers that were ferrying the army over the Nile ali through Sunday, September 20, and the greater part of the following day. By Monday afternoon the 13,000 men and 3,200 horses and camels of the army had been got across, and were ready to pursue the enemy, who was reported to have rallied at his camp north of Dong..la. Rumour said also that Wad Bishara had been wounded bv a bursting shell during the action at Hafir, but was still in command. Karly on Monday Lieutenant Beatty, R.N., was Ordered to go south with a gunboat, reconnoitre the enemy's position, and keep his attention occupied. Later in the day the march of the army was resumed, and the troops halted for .he night at Binneh, seventeen miles from Dongola.

Beatty found that the enemy had reoccupied the town and had dug shelter-trenches near the river and alonga low swellof the ground north of the place. He bombardedthese worksduring the dav, and, being reinforced by another gun-; iarly on Tuesday, continued the bombardment tillnightfall. That day the army advanced to Sowarat,six miles from the Dervish position. Spies brought in tidings that the enemy was determined to fight. That evening the newgunboat,ElZaffir, the most formidablewarship that had everbeen -ecu on theNile, 'earnedup fromHannek and joinedthe flotilla.

Ail was now ready lor the attack on Dongola, and at dawn on Wednesday, September i}.the advance in battle array began. The four gunboats protected the river flank, and were in position to enfilade the Dervish defences. The Sirdar's army was iormed with the infantry in four strongcolumns, the left of the line resting on the Nile, the right protected by the cavalry and Camel Corps. The Staffords were well to the front, and eighteen guns and four Maxims were ready to open fire as soon as touch was gained with the enemy. The ground was a level sandy plain, on which the Egyptian army marshalled for battle was able to display all its formidable strength against an enemy it outnumbered at least two to one. "They would have been madmen if thev had attacked us," said one of the officers who were present,