he river in native boats. It
was a very clever move, at any rate, on the part of fellows who did not
want to fight. There were we facing them, with our whole infantry and
cavalry useless, and we had nothing available to damage the enemy
except our artillery and the gunboats.

"These opened fire, and the Dervishes replied heavily. They had
earthworks, but the boats kept on, pluckily, till they got to a narrow
point in the stream; when a couple of guns, which had hitherto been
hidden, opened upon them at close range; while a strong force of
Dervish infantry poured in such a hot fire that the boats had to fall
back.

"After our field guns had peppered the enemy for a bit, the gunboats
tried again, but the fire was too hot for them, and the leading boat
had to retire.

"Things did not look very bright, till nine o'clock; when we found
that, at one point, the river was fordable to a small island, opposite
the enemy's lines. Four batteries, and the Maxims, at once moved over,
with two companies of Soudanese, and opened fire. The distance across
was but six hundred yards, and the fire was tremendous--shell,
shrapnel, and rockets--while the Soudanese fired volleys, and the
Maxims maintained a shower of bullets.

"It seemed that nothing could stand against it, but the Dervishes stuck
to their guns with great pluck. However, their fire was so far kept
down, that the three gunboats succeeded in forcing their way up; and,
passing the Dervish works, sank a steamer and a number of native boats.

"The Dervishes now began to give way, and the gunboats steamed up the
river, making for Dongola. The Dervishes, as soon as they had gone,
reopened fire, and the duel continued all day; but the great mass of
the enemy soon left, and also made their way towards Dongola.

"It was awfully annoying being obliged to remain inactive, on our side,
and it was especially hard for the cavalry; who, if they could have got
over, would have been able to cut up and disperse the enemy.

"The next morning the Dervishes were all gone, and that was practically
the end of the fighting. The gunboats went up and shelled Dongola; and
when we got there, two days later, the Dervishes had had enough of it.
Of course, there was a little fighting, but it was the effort of a
party of fanatics, rather than of an enemy who considered resistance
possible.

"We were greeted with enthusiasm by the unfortunate inhabitants, who
had been subject to the Dervish tyranny.