BRAVERY OF THE ARABS. 25 remained outside the square when it was halted—that which carried the wounded Lord St. Vincent among the rest. There was a gap in the left face of the square through which the Gardner-gun was taken into action until it jammed. The wady on the left then became alive with Arabs, a solid column of whom were to be seen emerging; but our skirmishers were still out and were fully occupied exchanging shots with the sharpshooters, so that they did not readily enough perceive the attack on the main body.

Therefore the fire of the rear of the square had to be reserved, and the ofificers had to prevent the men from taking up the fire of the guards and mounted infantry till the skirmishers had returned into the square. Major Byng was the last but one to get back; the last man of all was overtaken and speared. Almost with the return of the skirmishers came on the great body of Arabs, led by their chiefs on horseback, quite unshaken by the fire from the rear portion of the square; for until that moment the Heavy Camel Regiment had withheld their fire, which was then delivered at the advancing column. Taking advantage of the opening in the square, the Arabs hurled themselves with terrific rapidity and fury upon it. The company of the 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards had a few moments before been wheeled outwards by Colonel Burnaby, with the intention, as Lieutenant-colonel Talbot understood, of bringing their fire to bear; " but no sooner did he see that, not only on the flanks but on the rear, the attack was being developed, than he rode in front of the company and shouted to the men to wheel back. The order was obeyed, the men stepping steadily backwards. Before they had got back into their original place the Arabs were in through the interval thus created, and through the gap already existing at the left rear corner of the square. Burnaby, whose horse had fallen, was one of the first to be attacked, and as he lay on the ground he received a mortal wound in the neck from a sword cut."

The Royals, Greys, 5th Lancers, upon whose rear the camels pressed, hampering their free movement, were now attacked in rear by those of the enemy who had succeeded in passing the 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards, coming through and under the camels,