ABU KLEA AGAIN. 197 enemy at all, or from the rear. Orders were issued at once to clear out all the sick and wounded possible, and, whilst the detachment of Guards was left behind jto follow on with the wounded, the M.I. and part of the Heavies went on with the empty transport camels to hurry up the stores from Gakdul, leaving a few Heavies to strengthen the garrison.

The wounded convoy was not long in following :hem, and before night fell we had passed the battleield and got clear of the pass beyond. Scores of dead bodies were still lying about the country, all in a numrnified condition, and smelling horribly. The air ivas so dry that they would not decay properly, but >imply dried up in the hot sun and stank. On the ictual scene of the fight, to the left of the track, there #ere still piles of bodies, though hundreds had been aken away and buried. Those in the camp at the veils had told us that, for days after the fight, troops >f Arabs used to come down to the field after dark, ind bring water and food for their wounded friends vho were too badly hit to move. Now, however, here was not a sign of anything living.