TEE-EL-KEBIR. 17

dim light could be scarcely seen, a burst of musketry broke out. For a few minutes the troops poured in a heavy lire in exchange ; but it was probably

as innocuous as that of the unseen enemy, whose bullets whistled harmlessly overhead. The delay in the advance was but a short one. Soon the order

was given, and the brigade again went rapidly forward. Soon a portion of the

force had passed between the enemy’s redoubts and opened a flanking fire upon him.

“ This was too much for the Egyptians, who at once took to their heels and fairly ran, suffering, as the crowded masses rushed across the open, very heavily from our fire, being literally mown down by hundreds.

“ The fight was now practically over, the only further danger arising from the bullets of our own troops, who were fixing bayonets in all directions upon the flying enemy, as with loud cheers our whole line advanced in pur¬ suit. The Egyptians did not preserve the slightest semblance of order, but

fled in a confused rabble at the top of their speed.

“ It is stated that from the time our men gathered for the first rush at the trenches to the time when Fort Galeis fell into our hands it was but fifteen

minutes. ”

The Morning Post’s correspondent states that the whole of the action occupied exactly one hour and forty minutes.

The Times correspondent says :—The Egyptians were panic-stricken ; they crouched and threw themselves down, and multitudes fled across their fortified plateau, now strewn with their mangled bodies, or through the lux¬ urious station filled with camels and bales of cloth, fresh fruit, and stores of

every description.

The surprise of the Egyptians (the Times correspondent says) must have been complete. Breakfasts are left spread in some tents, and some wretches

lie dead in the midst of food and cooking utensils. Several shammed dead, and I saw one young Nubian revived in a marvellous way. -The soldiers are careful to ascertain the fact of death before passing recumbent Arabs.

“I went to help one man, and he fired after me,” said an indignant

sergeant.

The services of the Indian contingent, which hitherto had played but a subordinate part, were now called into use. Pressing rapidly over the battle¬

field, they made straight for Zagazig, which was occupied in the course of the day. The bulk of the cavalry and mounted infantry, seized upon Beilbeis. From this place they were again soon astir, and by a forced march of 39 miles under a blazing sun, they reached Cairo on the evening of September 14th, captured Arabi, and preserved the city from the dangers of a repetition of the Alexandria horrors. On the following day Sir Garnet Wolseley entered

the capital.