needed, for even in February the heat
upon the shores of the Red Sea is very great; and as the evening went on
the buzz of talk and laughter died out, and the troops lay down and
slept under the starry sky.

CHAPTER VII.

EL-TEB.

The next morning the Gordon Highlanders and Irish Fusiliers, accompanied
by a squadron of Hussars and the Mounted Infantry, with a couple of
small guns, crossed the lagoon and occupied the intrenchment. The
cavalry went a little distance out; but the enemy were seen in
considerable numbers, and as there might be a large force concealed
among the low sand-hills, no attempt was made to attack them, as it was
undesirable to bring on serious fighting until the whole force were in
readiness to advance. In the evening the cavalry recrossed the lagoon,
as there was no water obtainable on the other side, and the animals had
to depend upon the supply landed from the steamers. All day the work of
disembarkation had been going on, and in spite of the heat of the
blazing sun, the men had worked enthusiastically in getting the horses
and stores on shore.

The next day the Naval Brigade, one hundred and fifteen strong, all
picked men from the crews of the gun-boats, with ten officers, landed.
The troops on the beach were most anxious to advance, but as those
beyond the lagoon had to depend entirely upon food and water carried
across to them, it was unadvisable to push a larger body of men forward,
especially as the natives had clearly no intentions of attacking them,
contenting themselves by keeping up a distant fire.

"I expect the beggars are gathering their forces just as we are
gathering ours," one of the Hussars said, as they sat round a fire they
had lighted with some drift-wood picked up on shore. The heat was in no
way required, but the light was cheerful, and the smoke kept away
troublesome insects.

"They reckon," another said, "upon falling upon us on the march as they
did upon Baker's men, but they will find they have got into the wrong
box."

"General Baker came down himself in the steamboat which arrived this
afternoon. I heard one of the officers say so," Edgar put in. "It will
be a satisfaction to him to see these fellows well licked on nearly the
same ground where they cut up his force."

"Ah! I expect Baker would give his right hand to lead the cavalry in the
charge. What a splendid officer he is! There is not a man in the army
can handle cavalry as he can; and wouldn't