care the snap of a finger whether they are killed or not,
you never can count upon an easy victory however badly they may be
armed, and however undisciplined they may be.

"There is nine o'clock," he broke off, as the bells on board the
gun-boats rang out twice. A moment later a bugle sounded "lights out,"
and the call was repeated by the buglers and trumpeters of the various
corps, and a few minutes later the men stretched themselves out on the
sand, and silence reigned in the camp. The next morning Admiral Hewett
sent on shore eight seven-pounder guns from the fleet, to take the place
of the same number of little camel-guns, which had been found to be of
no real utility. At noon the smoke of a steamer was made out in the
distance, and a few hours later the _Serapis_, whose engines had gone
wrong, arrived with the 65th, who were landed at once, and
immediately crossed the lagoon to the intrenchment, and it was known
that the advance would at once begin.

[Illustration: PORT OF SUAKIM]

[Illustration: BATTLE OF EL TEB.

20TH. FEB. 1884.]

In addition to the guns sent on shore from the fleet the artillery had
ten brass mountain-guns and four Krupps; the Naval Brigade had with them
two nine-pounders, three Gatlings, and three Gardners. The troops were
divided into two brigades, the first consisting of 610 men of the
Rifles, 751 Gordon Highlanders, and 334 of the Irish regiment; the
second brigade of 761 Royal Highlanders, 500 of the 65th, 361 Royal
Marine Artillery and Infantry, and 100 Royal Engineers. There were 600
camels for the transport, 350 mules and 100 camels for the ambulance
corps, while the camel battery was composed of 80 camels and 100 men.

In the course of the afternoon Major Harvey and Lieutenant-colonel
Burnaby rode out two miles beyond the intrenchment and planted a white
flag with a letter attached to the flagstaff, calling upon the enemy to
retire and allow us to pass on to Tokar without opposition. They were
fired at by the Arabs, and as the flag disappeared a short time after
the officers had returned, there was no doubt that the letter would
arrive at its destination. Before nightfall the whole of the force, with
the exception of one hundred and fifty men left to defend the stores on
the beach, had crossed the lagoon. Three hundred men were to remain in
the intrenchment, when the rest marched, to defend the transport animals
and stores left there against any attacks. Bivouac fires were light