BREAKFAST UNDER FIRE. 123 on all night, very few bullets found their billet in the zeriba, and I think only two men altogether, a Hussar and a camel-driver, were wounded.

Morning broke at last, and great was the desire to stamp about to get warm again ; however, the Arabs on the hill-tops had increased during the night and had discovered the exact range. The bullets flew thicker and thicker, and men who jumped up to stretch their legs were not sorry to lie down again under cover of the little wall. Breakfast was eaten, consisting of bully beef and biscuits out of our haversacks, and a gun was mounted in the salient of the zeriba. We waited some time for the enemy to attack, but since they did not seem inclined to do so, the flanking party was called in, and Sir Herbert made his preparations for advance.

The General's person seemed a favourite target for the enemy's marksmen, and brought grief to several.

The first to fall was Major Dickson of the Royals (attached to the Intelligence Department), shot through the knee. Colonel Burnaby's horse next received a bullet in the fetlock, and was led limping