186 WITH KITCHENER IN THE SOUDAN killed. At last the fire of the guns slackened, and on the crest of the position, in a semicircle round the wood, a long line of steadily marching men appeared. The assault was about to‘ begin. The Dervishes sprang from their hidingplaces and lined the trenches behind the zareba. The troops halted and waited. The Maxims moved in front of the British brigade, and then opened fire. A bugle sounded, and the whole line, black and white, advanced like a wall. When within three hundred yards the men knelt down and opened fire in volleys of sections. At the same instant the Dervishes, with difficulty restrained until now, opened fire in return..

The Maxims and the storm of British bullets swept the wood, filling the air with a shower of falling leaves. Gregory murmured a prayer, shut his eyes, and awaited death. Suddenly he felt his ropes slacken and fall from him, and a voice said, “ Drop on your face, master! ” Almost mechanically he obeyed, too astonished even to think what was happening; then a body fell across him. “ Lie still and don’t move, master ; they must think you are dead.”

Is it you, Zaki ? ” Gregory said, scarcely able, even now, to believe that it was his faithful follower.

“ It is I, master. I have been in the camp three days, and have never had a chance of getting near you before.”

Brave fellow ! good friend 1 ” Gregory said, and then was silent.

Speech was almost inaudible amid the roar of battle. The pipes of the Camerons could, however, be heard above the din. The men advanced steadily in line, maintaining their excellent volley-firing. The three other regiments, in close order, followed, bearing away farther to the right so as to be able to open fire and advance. On that side the black regiments were advancing no less steadily, and the halfbrigade of Egyptians were as eager as any. Steadily and well under control all pushed forward at a run, firing occasionally, but thirsting to get hand to hand with those who had desolated their land, destroyed their villages, and slain their friends.