o their
worst as we go. It would be all right if we hadn't this tremendous train
of camels; but if they come pouring down while we are on the march we
shall have difficulty in protecting them all."

"I wish Rupert were lying here with us," Edgar said, looking anxiously
at his brother, whose figure he could perceive among those near the
general. "It is horrid lying here in safety while he is exposed to their
bullets."

"We must all take our chances," the sergeant said. "Maybe presently you
will be in more danger than he is."

Half an hour later orders were issued that the men were to prepare for
action, and it became known among the officers that the general had
determined to leave a small garrison to protect the baggage and camels
in the zareba, and to push forward with the rest of the force and
capture the wells, and then send back and fetch in the camels and
baggage. But the movement was delayed until ten o'clock in hopes that
the enemy would attack. As they did not do so, orders were given, and
the square formed up. The Guards' Camel Corps formed half the front of
the square, and the right flank. The Mounted Infantry filled up the
other half of the front, and half the left flank. The rest of the left
flank and the rear were formed by the Heavy Camel Corps and the Naval
Brigade; the hundred men of the Sussex taking the right rear corner
between them and the Guards, while the Naval Brigade with their Gardner
gun were in the centre of the rear line, between the troop of the 4th
and 5th Dragoon Guards and that of the 1st and 2d Life Guards and Blues.

In the centre behind the fighting line were two guns of the Royal
Artillery, the other having been left in the zareba, while the centre of
the square was filled with camels carrying water, ammunition, and
cacolets or swinging beds for the carriage of the wounded.

The instant the square was formed and moved out the fire of the enemy
redoubled. Swarms of natives appeared on the top of the hills, moving
parallel with the advance of the square. The march was taken in slow
time to allow the guns and camels to keep up. The ground was extremely
difficult and broken, deep water-ruts and rocky hillocks having to be
crossed, and the whole very undulating and broken.

Men fell fast, and frequent halts had to be made to enable the doctors
to attend to the wounded, and place them in the cacolets. The front face
and sides of the square advanced in fair order, but there was much
c