130 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

about 500 yards off) moved across our left front, in column of companies, and disappeared for a moment behind the rocks and grass in the wady.

In half a minute they reappeared, close on the left rear, left wheeled into line, and charged. So quickly was this done, that the skirmishers had barely time to run in before the Arabs were upon them, one unfortunate man of the 6oth, an officer's servant who was not in good training, being speared before he reached the square.

In moving the square up this hillock several tired camels, with their loads of wounded, had been left outside, lying down at the foot of the slope ; the native drivers could not get them on to their legs, so bolted into the square to save their own skins when the enemy charged. It looked like certain death for the wounded, and no doubt would have proved so if R (an officer of the G.C.R.) and one or two other privates of the H.C.R. had not gallantly rushed out and hauled several of the camels in by main force just as the Arabs reached the square. The moment the skirmishers were in, a terrific fire began from