228 WITH KITCHENEE IN THE SOUDAN occasional shot of a lurking Dervish, all was quiet elsewhere.

While the cavalry charge was in progress Gregory had moved along the line of the Egyptian brigades with General Hunter. Suddenly, from behind the hills where the Khalifa had fallen back with his defeated army, a column of fully twelve thousand men, led by the banner-bearers and emirs, poured out again. A strong body sprang forward from another valley and made for the south-eastern corner of Macdonald’s brigade, which had moved almost due west from the position it had occupied in the zareba, while the large force that had chased away the Egyptian cavaliy were seen returning to attack him in the rear. General Hunter, who was riding between Macdonald’s and Lewis’s brigades, which were now a good mile apart, exclaimed to Gregory, who happened to be the nearest officer to him, Ride to Macdonald and tell him to fall back if possible ! ” Then he turned and galloped off to fetch up reinforcements. But the need was already seen, the sudden uproar had attracted the attention of the whole army, and the Sirdar instantly grasped the situation.

The moment was indeed critical. If Macdonald’s brigade were overwhelmed it might have meant a general disaster, and the Sirdar at once sent orders to Wauchope’s brigade to go at the double to Macdonald’s aid.

Fortunately Colonel Long, who commanded the artillery, had sent three batteries with Macdonald’s brigade. Collinson’s brigade were far away near the river, Lewis’s were themselves threatened. It was evident at once that no assistance could reach Macdonald in time. When Gregory reached him the Dervishes were already approaching.

“ It cannot be done,” Macdonald said sternly, when Gregory delivered the' message ; “ we must fight ! ” Indeed, to retreat would have meant destruction. The fire would have been ineffective, and the thirty thousand fierce foes would have been among them. There was nothing to do but to fight.