OMDUKMAN' 225 Hill a portion of the force who were there also swept down to join the Khalifa, while Yacoub advanced from the southwest, and another body from the west.

Instantly the infantry and artillery fire broke out again. On the previous day the distance had been measured and marked on several conspicuous objects, and the storm of shells tore the ranks of the enemy and the rifies swept them with a rain of bullets. But in face of all this the Dervishes continued to advance at a run, their numbers thinning every minute. Two or three hundred horsemen, with their emirs, dashed at the zareba at full gallop; shrapnel, Maxim, and rifie bullets swept their ranks, but nearer and nearer they came, with lessening numbers every yard, until the last of them fell within about two hundred yards of Maxwell’s line. Animated by the example, the infantry rushed forward. The black fiag was planted within nine hundred yards of Maxwell’s left, but in addition to the Egyptian fire the cross-fire of the British divisions poured upon those around it. The main body began to waver, .but the Khalifa and his emirs did their best to encourage and rally them. The fiag was riddled with balls, and the men who held it were shot down; but others seized the post of honour until a pile of bodies accumulated round it.

At last but one man remained standing there. For a minute he stood quietly immovable, ihen fell forward dead. Then the Dervishes lost heart and began to fall back in ones and twos, then in dozens, until the last had disappeared behind the hills. The troops then turned their attention to the men who, lying in shelter, were still maintaining their fire. There were fully a thousand of these, and the greater portion of our casualties took place from their fire while the troops were occupied in repelling the m<iin attack. It was not long, however, before bullets and shell proved too much for them, and those who survived crawled :ay to join their kinsmen behind the hills.

It was eight o’clock now, and the victory had appk-ojitly