114 THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

right and swinging to the left our men fought like gladiators, without unneces¬ sarily wasting strength or dealing a blow too many. A more glorious spectacle was never seen than this little hand in broad daylight, on an open plain, seeking hand-to-hand conflict with the courageous, savage, and fanatical foe, who outnumbered us by twelve to one.

“As the square moved over the rolling ground, keeping its best fighting side—or rather its firing side—towards the great on-rushes of the Arabs, the soldiers swung around, as though the square pivoted on its centre. Once it entered ground too thickly covered by grass and scrub, halted, and coolly swung round and marched out upon the more open ground, with the Arabs to the right front, their tom-toms beating, and their sacred battle-flags of red, white, and green flying in the air.

“ Bearing banners lettered with verses from the Koran, a host of fanatic Arabs was the first to hurl its swordsmen and spearsmen upon the square. The column wheeled to receive them, and the men, by their officers’ direction, fired volleys by companies, scarcely any independent firing being permitted. The wild dervishes and fanatics who led the charge went down in scores before our fire, which was opened on them at 700 yards, and none of the enemy got within some yards of the square. This checked their ardour, which had been excited by seeing the gaps in our ranks. Three more charges were attempted by the enemy at other points along the line of the square’s advance.

“At half-past four, after nearly two hours’ incessant fighting, as the column neared the south-easterly edge of the valley to pass out of it, the Arabs made their final grand rush. Nearly 10,000 of them swept down from three sides towards the square, their main body—numbering not fewer than 5000— coming upon our left face. It was a critical moment. Their fire had made fresh gaps in our ranks, and fierce human waves were rolling in on every side to overwhelm our force. Down the Arabs came from behind the ridge at a trot, and not at the top of their speed, as the Hadendowas charge. Gallant horsemen and wild dervishes led them, and shouted to their followers to rush on in Allah’s name and destroy us. Firm as a rock, the square stood steadily, aimed deliberately, and fired. Again and again had volleys to be sent into the yelling hordes as down they poured. The feeling was—Could they be stopped before closing with us ? Their fleetest and luckiest, however, did not get within twenty-five yards before death overtook them ; while the bulk of the enemy were still a hundred yards away. At last—God be thanked !_ they hesitate, stop, turn, and run back. Victory is ours, and the British column is safe ! The broken lines of Arabs sullenly retreated towards Metemneh ; but our square had to gain the ridge before escaping from their sharp¬ shooters’ fire, or getting a chance of punishing the daring foe. Without further opposition, the British advanced to the river, and encamped for the night.”