GORDON AND THE MAHDI. 140 BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIR HERBERT STEWART, K.C.B.

CHAPTER XVII. were left to guard Abu Klea, and General Stewart set offtowardsthe Nile with the remainderof the force, and onehundred camels for the conveyance of water,ammunition,and cacolets. Starting at four p.m., the column marched onward until sunset, when a halt of a few minutes was made, to allow the darkness to settle down, and then, avoidingShebacat wells and the Arabs posted there to intercept or hinder the force, General Stewart struck due south into the Desert, hoping to reach the Nile before daylight,and before the rebels could come' up. Part of the way, the force moved in columns of regiments, the Mounted Infantry leading, with the Hussars in advance and on the flanks. Ali Lobah, the outlawrobberchief, captured by theHussars at Gakdul, directedthe course, which was at times rather circuitous — now south,then south by west, and again south by east.

The Abu Klea wells taken possession of and fortified.— Night march of General Stewart's column towards the Nile.— The camels give in.— Bivouac of the troops.— The rebels prepare to intercept the British advance.— Deadly fire of the enemy.— General Stewart mortally wounded.—Mr. St.Leger-Herbert shot dead.— SirCharles Wilson assumes the command.— Advanced works erected for the skirmishers.— Mr. Cameronkilled.— A flyingcolumn sallies forth. — Repeated desperate charges of the foe.— Valley of theShadow of Death.— Final rush andretreat of therebels.— TheNile atlast.— Occupationof Abu Kru and burning of Gubat.— Results of the battle.

The immediate result of the hard-won victoryof Abu Kleawas theseizureof the wells,whichg.ave thetroops an abundant supply of water. By nightfall the men were collected inside an irregular and imperfectly completed zereba, where theyrestedin square formation, with their arms beside them ready for instant use. The supplies having been brought from the old position,additional fortifications were erectedat the wells; theBritish dead were buried, and by dint of hardwork the columnwas read}- to resumeits forward march at four o'clock on the following, afternoon, January 18. A detachment of the Sussex regiment and a few men of the Royal Engineers The column progressed only slowly, for the men had alreadypassed one sleepless night and had toiled hard allday. Halts frequently had to be made inorder to enablethe rearto comeup withthe rest of the column. Scores of camelsmoreoverbroke down under their loads and had to be abandoned, the packs, as a rule, beino*