as little water as possible; and had been built
and sent out, in sections, from England. They were constructed entirely
of steel, and had three decks, the lower one having loophole shutters
for infantry fire. On the upper deck, which was extended over the whole
length of the boat, was a conning tower. In the after portion of the
boat, and beneath the upper deck, were cabins for officers. Each boat
carried a twelve-pounder quick-firing gun forward, a howitzer, and four
Maxims. The craft were a hundred and thirty-five feet long, with a beam
of twenty-four feet, and drew only three feet and a half of water. They
were propelled by a stern wheel.

At half-past nine the Zafir's whistle gave the signal, and she and her
consorts--the Nazie and Fatteh--cast off their warps, and steamed out
into the river. Each boat had on board two European engineers, fifty
men of the 9th Soudanese, two sergeants of royal marine artillery, and
a small native crew.

"I expect that we shall not make many more trips down to Berber," the
Commander said, when they were once fairly off. "The camp at Atbara
will be our headquarters, unless indeed Mahmud advances; in which case,
of course, we shall be recalled. Until then we shall be patrolling the
river up to Metemmeh; and making, I hope, an occasional rush as far as
the next cataract."

When evening came on, the steamer tied up to an island, a few miles
north of Shendy. So far they had seen no hostile parties--indeed, the
country was wholly deserted.

Next morning they started before daybreak. Shendy seemed to be in
ruins. Two Arabs, only, were seen on the bank. A few shots were fired
into the town, but there was no reply.

Half an hour later, Metemmeh was seen. It stood half a mile from the
river. Along the bank were seven mud forts, with extremely thick and
solid walls. Keeping near the opposite bank, the gunboats, led by the
Zafir, made their way up the river. Dervish horsemen could be seen,
riding from fort to fort, doubtless carrying orders.

The river was some four thousand yards wide and, at this distance, the
gunboats opened fire at the two nearest forts. The range was soon
obtained to a nicety, and the white sergeants and native gunners made
splendid practice, every shell bursting upon the forts, while the
Maxims speedily sent the Dervish horsemen galloping off to the distant
hills, on which could be made out a large camp.

The Dervish gunners replied promptly, but the range was too