ABU KLEA AND ABU KRU 107 CHAPTER XXVII.

ABU KLEA AND ABU KRU.

Gakdul was reached and passed, and the troops pressed on for Metemneh. On the road to this town lay the wells of Abu Klea.

Abu Klea ;—the name has become known wherever English pluck has become known, for here occurred the first and perhaps the greatest of the battles fought by the soldiers of the Nile expedition.

At noon on January the 16th as the troops were bivouacking in sight of the ridge leading to the wells, news was brought that the enemy were holding Abu Klea in force. At once dispositions were made for attack, and in com¬ pact square of column the brigade moved forward as steadily as if on parade. In this formation they came within four hundred yards from the foot of the ridge, when General Stewart determined to rest where he was for the night and attack the enemy in the morning. A zariba was formed, strong pickets posted, and the men lay down under arms to gain what rest they could.

And this was not much. All night bullets kept falling in and around the square, and three times the alarm was sounded with the expectation of a general assault.

However, breakfast was comparatively quietly enjoyed after sunrise, and at 10 o’clock General Stewart ordered a general advance. “We advanced two miles,” says Mr. Pearse of the Daily News, “ exposed to a heavy fire on all sides. We moved out to the attack under a hail of bullets. Men dropped from the ranks right and left, but none of the wounded were left on the field. It was nearly an hour before we sighted the enemy’s main body, and realised that at least 7,000 or 8,000 men were against us. We halted and closed square. The concealed enemy sprang up, twenty banners waving, and came on in a splendid line. The troops on the right were led by Abu Saleh, Emir of Metemneh. On the left they were under Mahommed Khair, Emir cf Berber. The latter was wounded, and retired early; but Saleh came desperately on at the head of a hundred fanatics, escaping the withering fire of the Martinis marvellously until shot down in the square. The rear face, composed of the heavy cavalry, broke forward in the endeavour to fire on the rebels, who swept round the flank and broke into us. Then came the shock of the Arabs’ impulsive charge against our square. For a moment, there was much confusion, and the fate of the whole force trembled in the balance, until the steadiness of the Guards, Marines, and Mounted Infantry prevailed. The