s with their glasses could make
them out swarming along a slight ridge of ground in the neighbourhood of
the wells; their flags extended along a front a mile in length, and
guns could be made out in position. As the column advanced the enemy
cleared off from the rising ground, but whether they had retired behind
the ridge, and were there waiting in readiness to pour out to the
attack, or whether they were moving round to fall upon the flank of the
column, was uncertain. As the column neared the position it could be
seen that a breastwork had been thrown up, and that the position of the
guns had been well chosen, and the enemy could now be made out crowded
among the bushes on the ridge.

It was now ten o'clock, the column was advancing briskly to the martial
music of the pipes of the Royal Highlanders, the cavalry scouts had
moved away from the front, and the square was within five hundred yards
of the ridge. They were not, however, advancing directly against it, but
were moving in a line almost parallel to its face, as General Graham had
determined to pass it and then attack in flank, as it was evident that
there would be serious loss in a front attack upon a position so
strongly held and fortified. It was a trying moment, for all expected
that the silence, so far preserved by the enemy, would be broken by the
roar of cannon and the discharge of musketry, and that it would be
followed by the tremendous rush that had proved fatal to Baker's force.

But the square kept its way for some distance across the face before the
enemy opened fire. They had doubtless expected that a direct attack
would be made upon their position, and the passage of the troops without
the slightest attention to themselves surprised and disconcerted them.
But at last they perceived that they must take the offensive, and
suddenly a hot fire of musketry broke out from bush and earthwork, while
the Krupp guns, manned by the soldiers who had formed part of the Tokar
garrison, opened fire. The distance was but four hundred yards, and
several of the men fell out from their places in the ranks wounded, but
the greater part of the shot and bullets flew overhead.

No reply to the fire was made by the square, but its direction was
changed a little more to the right so as to take it somewhat farther
from the face of the enemy's position. The artillery now opened fire
upon the guns of the enemy, but the square kept on its course steadily,
while a storm of bu