66 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

the fire was rather less violent. Bullets were flying constantly, however, and the wretched camels tied down within the seriba were slaughtered in scores, though Sir Charles Wilson records that as he went about to see to what was being done he could not help feeling surprised that the poor beasts " showed no alarm and did not seem to mind being hit. One heard a heavy thud, and looking round saw a stream of blood oozing out of the wound, but the camel went on chewing his cud as if nothing had happened, not even giving a slight wince to show he was in pain."

At about half-past two in the afternoon the advance was ordered, and though the men were still weary, most of them hungry, and all suffering from an insufficient supply of water, they rejoiced that they were going forward to meet the enemy and to fight their way to the Nile. The latter consideration was, in fact, an important one; for it was necessary that they should reach the water that night. The situation was very critical: the enemy was working round to the rear, and yet the gravel terrace in front swarmed with footmen and horsemen with their banners before them. Sir Charles Wilson felt how grave the crisis had become, and yet he records that from the moment he entered the square he felt no anxiety as to the result. The men's faces were set in a determined expression that meant business, and he knew that they intended to drink from the Nile that night. They moved in a cool collected way without noise or any appearance of excitement. Many, as he afterwards heard, never expected to get through, but were determined to sell their lives dearly.

In the direction of the river the country was fairly open, and Colonel Boscawen so manoeuvred as to keep the square on the bare gravel patches, that the enemy concealed in the long grass and scrub might not make a sudden rush unperceived. Major Verner gave the square its direction and it first moved round the smaller of the two redoubts towards the river; but the men had no sooner risen from the ground than the enemy opened a sharp fire, in which so many of our men were wounded that they were carried back to the seriba only about 30 yards distant, while the square quickened its march, got clear of the redoubt, and made for the