lions;
all then lay down to sleep. At one o'clock the word to advance was
passed round quietly. The moon was full and high overhead, so there was
no difficulty in avoiding obstacles. Each brigade marched in square,
accompanied by the guns and the Maxims, and the camels with provisions
and spare ammunition.

At four o'clock they halted again. They had been well guided, and were
now but a short distance from the enemy's position. At sunrise the men
were again on their feet, and advanced to within two hundred yards of
the position from which they were to deliver their attack. The British
brigade--the Camerons, Warwicks, Seaforths, and Lincolns--were on the
left. Next to them came Macdonald's brigade--the three Soudanese
regiments in front, the 2nd Egyptian in support. Farther still to the
right, and touching the river, was Maxwell's brigade, comprising also
three Soudanese regiments and an Egyptian one. Two of the three
Egyptian battalions of Lewis's brigade were placed on the left rear of
the British brigade, the third battalion was in square round the
camels. Two field batteries were in front of the infantry, and two to
the right of Maxwell's brigade.

Half a mile from the zareba the infantry halted, and the artillery and
Maxims opened fire. For an hour a tremendous fire was poured into the
enemy's position, but not a shot was fired in reply, although the
Dervishes could be seen moving among the trees, apparently unconcerned
at the storm of shell and bullets.

Gregory's position had been growing more critical every day. Food was
extremely short; the scanty supplies that the force had brought with
them had been long since exhausted, and they were now subsisting upon
palm nuts. Of these, two were served out daily to each man, a quantity
barely sufficient to keep life together. In spite of the vigilant watch
kept by the more fanatical of Mahmud's followers, desertions had become
frequent, notwithstanding the certain death that awaited those who were
overtaken.

The evening after the cavalry made their first reconnaissance, the
slave who brought Gregory's food told him that Fatma wished to speak to
him. It was but three paces to the entrance of the tent, and his guards
made no objection. The entrance was closed as the slave entered, but
half a minute later it was opened an inch or two, and, without showing
herself, Fatma said:

"Listen to me."

"I am listening," Gregory replied.

"I am in great fear for you. You ar