l62 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

driving out the enemy at the point of the bayonet, and at once bringing a flanking fire to bear on the other "koppies," a body of the enemy armed with spears and with a man in their midst carrying a flag, boldly descended from the heights to the open ground and charged towards the nearest companies of the Black Watch, only to be received with a terrible fire, which swept away those in front, and caused the rest to turn and run for the river. Then the order for the assault rang out, the shrill skreel of the pipes was heard above the sharp rattle of rifles and the hoarse murmur of the battle-cry, and the Black Watch charged over the clear space and stormed the rocky knolls, not stopping till they had reached the highest points, while the men on the high " koppie " by the river bank advanced from the flank and seized the height nearest to them. It was one of the most gallant assaults ever made, for the enemy were ensconced behind loopholed breastworks, and hidden in the clefts of the steep, rugged hills, which were difficult to scale in the face of a continuous fire; but our men never wavered, never stopped till they had taken these two main positions. The Arabs remained fighting stubbornly to the last: not even those who were concealed in the holes and sconces of the rocks being suffered to escape; But it was necessary to call the men to form again in regular order, and General Earle had decided to bring them into their ranks on a small, level space between the two principal hills, where there stood a hut built of stone with a roof of thatch.

General Earle, who was directing the formation of the ranks, was standing within a few yards of this hut when a sergeant of the Black Watch pointed out that it was occupied by some of the enemy, who had just shot one of our men. General Earle ordered the thatch to be set on fire; but on being warned that there was ammunition in the hut, ordered the roof to be pulled down, and went towards the spot. General Brackenbury, who was close to him, said, " Take care, sir, the hut is full of men." Our soldiers had set fire to the roof, and General Brackenbury's attention was for a moment diverted by seeing a native who had rushed out of a side door instantly bayoneted. At that