THE

WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

CHAPTER I.

THE FIRST SHOT.

Let us imagine ourselves, you and me, my reader, at Alexandria on the night of the 10th of July, 1882. We shall not sleep ; the whole town is in a state of suspense and excitement. Outside there, in the harbor, are thirteen great ships of war, England’s ironclads, prowling about within gun-shot

of us. This morning, at seven o’clock, the Admiral in command, Sir Beauchamp Seymour, gave notice that if work on the fortifications lining the shore did not cease, twenty-four hours from that time he would open fire. No wonder nobody sleeps. With the muzzles of those 81 ton guns peering at us through the iron walls of the greatest naval force in the world who could lie down un¬ concerned ? No one knows what is going to happen. Arabi Pasha has sent, two of his officers to the Admiral to make terms. But the electric light from the fleet which has been silently pouring its searching rays on the Arab gun¬ ners in the forts, shows that the work is still going on. Now the sun rises and shows the great ships ready for action. Seven o’clock strikes,—boom ; a puff of smoke from Her Majesty’s ship Alexandra shows what is meant. Four minutes’ grace is given, then up goes the signal from the Invincible, “ Attack the enemies’ batteries,” immediately the Monarch, Penelope, Invincible,. Sultan, Superb, Temeraire, Inflexible, and Alexandra, pour in shells which weigh some 1,500 lbs., the cost of firing of each of which would buy a com¬ fortable lot in a country town.

For ten mortal hours the deafening thunder is kept up. One by one the great forts are silenced. The largest of the Egyptian cannons are turned on end like pop-guns. The solid masonry of the parapets yawn with great holes.