thither seeking for some means of
escape. The position of the Desert Column would have enabled the XIIth
Soudanese, by moving down to the river, to cut off this line of
retreat; but the foreshore of the river at the southern end of Firket is
concealed from a landward view by the steep bank, and by this sandy path
the greater number of the fugitives found safety.

The cavalry and the Camel Corps, instead of cutting at the flank,
contented themselves with making a direct pursuit after the enemy had
crossed their front, and in consequence several hundred Arabs made good
their escape to the south. Others swam the river and fled by the west
bank. The wicked Osman Azrak, his authority now no longer disputed, for
his rival was a corpse, galloped from the field and reached Suarda. The
rest of the Dervish force held to the houses, and variously prepared to
fight to the death or surrender to their conquerors.

The three brigades now closed upon the village and, clearing it step by
step, advanced to the water's edge. MacDonald's brigade did not indeed
stop until they had crossed the swampy isthmus and occupied the island.
The Arabs, many of whom refused quarter, resisted desperately, though
without much effect, and more than eighty corpses were afterwards found
in one group of buildings. By 7.20 o'clock all firing had ceased; the
entire Dervish camp was in the hands of the Egyptian troops, and the
engagement of Firket was over.

The Sirdar now busied himself with the pursuit, and proceeded with the
mounted troops as far as Mograka, five miles south of Firket. The whole
cavalry force, with the Camel Corps and Horse Artillery, pressed
the retreat vigorously to Suarda. Osman Azrak, however, succeeded in
transporting the women and children and some stores, with a sufficient
escort, to the west bank before the arrival of the troops. On the
approach of the cavalry he retired along the east bank, with a small
mounted force, without fighting. The Emir in charge of the escort on the
other side delayed, and was in consequence shelled at long range by the
Horse battery. The local inhabitants, tired of the ceaseless war which
had desolated the frontier province for so long, welcomed their new
masters with an appearance of enthusiasm. The main pursuit stopped at
Suarda, but a week later two squadrons and sixteen men of the Camel
Corps, under Captain Mahon, were pushed out twenty miles further south,
and an Arab store of grain was captured.