110 THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

unexpected attack. Before the savage could repeat his unlooked for blow, so near the ranks of the square was the scene now being enacted, a soldier ran out and drove his sword bayonet through the second assailant. Brief as was Burnaby’s glance backward at this fatal episode it was long enough to enable the first Arab to deliver his spear full in the brave officer’s throat. The blow drove Burnaby out of the saddle, but it required a second one before he let go his grip of the reins and tumbled upon the ground. Half a dozen Arabs were now about him. With blood gushing in streams from his gashed throat the dauntless guardsmen leaped to his feet sword in hand and slashed at the ferocious group. They were the wild strokes of a proud, brave man dying hard, and he was quickly overborne and left helpless and dying.”

This victory gave us possession of the wells, and of these the troops were sorely in need.

Here they bivouacked unmolested by the enemy that night. But hard fighting was yet in store for them.

On the following day they again pressed forward, making a forced march in order to reach the river and escape the horrors of the desert. At daylight on the 19th the column found itself but six miles from the green and fertile banks, within reach of inexhaustible clear, sweet water, and approaching their goal. But the enemy was on the alert. Let Mr. Burleigh tell the story of what now took place.

“ Streams of men on horseback and on foot came from Metammeh, inter¬ posing themselves between the column and the water we longed to gain. For a short time, Sir Herbert Stewart deliberated whether to push on two miles nearer the Nile. As the Arabs mustered in sufficient force seriously to threaten our advance, he decided to halt upon a ridge of desert covered with sparkling pebbles, four miles from the river. To our right and rear lay a few low black hills, one mile to two miles distant; on our front, the Desert rolled downward, towards the green flats bordering the Nile; for here, as at Dongola, the belt of cultivation is rich and wide.

“ Turning with a light smile to his staff, General Stewart said, ‘ Tell the officers and men we will have breakfast first, and then go out and fight.’ The column was closed up, with the baggage animals to the centre, as usual • the boxes and pack-saddles being taken off, to make an inclosure to protect the square from rifle fire. In less than ten minutes the Arabs were not only all over our front and flanks, but had drawn a line around our rear. Groups bearing the fantastic Koran-inscribed banners of the False Prophet, similar to those of which we had taken two or three score at Abou Klea, could be seen occupying vantage points all around. The enemy’s fire grew hotter and more deadly every minute. Evidently their Remingtons were in the hands of Kordofan hunters. Mimosa bushes were cut, and breakfast preparations were