SERIOUS NIGHT ASSAULTS. 1 9 in the hospital the man holding the lantern incautiously turned it towards the hill occupied by the riflemen; a volley of bullets was the immediate answer, succeeded by a steady fire, which luckily did little harm.1 The nights were exceedingly cold, and from this the men suffered considerably while they waited for the dawn expecting an attack. As the planet Venus rose in the sky they stood to their arms, for it had been said that this was the usual signal for the assault of the enemy; but there seemed to be some delay or indecision, since though the fire from the hill became hotter and some of the guards and mounted infantry were sent out to suppress it, and though several of the enemy ran down the hill and crept up towards the seriba, and those in the valley had approached nearer, no large masses of them appeared, and it seemed that they did not intend to attack at once, but to keep up a harassing fire. Those of them who occupied the hill were protected by low stone walls. The seriba may be described as an abattis of earth and brushwood, or thorny acacia and sunt trees [Acacia arabica) round the baggage, and about 150 yards of protecting stone breastwork some hundred yards' further to the front. Major Dickson was shot through the leg, and a few other officers and men were also hit.

The fire of the Arabs was becoming serious, and some of their horsemen crept round to the right of the position, but were dispersed by a few rounds of shell. Sir Herbert Stewart determined to march out and give battle, leaving a force to hold the seriba; and after having breakfast under a brisk fire from the enemy the men were delighted to receive orders to form square and prepare to advance.

The square was formed by the guards and mounted infantry in front; the rear face by four companies of the heavy camel regiment, with its fifth company round the angle and on the left face of the square; the detachment of the Sussex Regiment on the right face towards the rear; the naval brigade and the Gardnergun were between the third and fourth companies of the heavies, whose adjutant, Lord St. Vincent, was badly wounded before the 1 From Korli to Kliartum.