16 THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

a body of 14,000 men get under arms more quietly ; the very orders appeared given in lowered tones, and almost noiselessly the dark columns moved off, their footfalls being deadened by the sand. The silence broken only by the

occasional clash of steel, the certainty that the great struggle would commence with the dawn, and the expectation that at any moment we might be chal¬ lenged by the Bedouin horsemen far out in the plain in front of the enemy, all combined to make it an impressive march, and one which none who shared in it will ever forget.

“ There were frequent halts to enable the regiments to maintain touch, and to allow the transport waggons, whose wheels crunched over the sandy plains with a noise which to our ears seemed strangely loud, to keep up with us.”

This silent march across from Kassassin to Tel-el-Kebir has been most

graphically described. The night was pitch dark ; not a word was uttered ; and when nearing the enemy not even a match to light the longed-for cigar¬ ette was allowed. The line of march was followed by means of the stars, a young lieutenant of the navy leading the way. At times, however, incidents occurred which were within an ace of bringing about the most disastrous re¬

sults. For instance, the force moved in two divisions, and it sometimes hap¬ pened that the outer part of the wings moved faster than the centre, thus bringing the men partly opposite and within ear-shot of each other. In the pitch darkness that prevailed, relieved only by starlight, it was quits possible, nay probable, that each wing might mistake the other for the enemy, and without command open fire. Such a catastrophe was indeed once narrowly averted.

“By early dawn the troops had arrived within a thousand yards of the

enemy’s lines, and halted there for a short time to enable the fighting line to be formed, and other preparations to be made.

“A perfect silence still reigned over the plains, and it was difficult to credit the fact that some fourteen thousand men lay in a semi-circle round the enemy’s lines, ready to dash forward at a signal at the low sand heaps in front, behind which twice as many men slumbered, unsuspicious of their presence.

“ Swiftly and silently the troops moved forward to the attack. No word

was spoken, no shot fired until within 300 yards of the enemy’s earthworks, nor up to that time did a sound in the Egyptian lines betoken that they were

aware of the presence of their assailants. Then suddenly a terrific fire flashed along the line of sand heaps, and a storm of bullets whizzed over the heads

of the advancing troops. A wild cheer broke from the troops in response, the pipes struck shrilly up, bayonets were fixed, and at the double this splendid body of men dashed forward.

“ The first line of entrenchments was carried, the enemy offering scarce any resistance, but from another line of entrenchments behind, which in the still