black and white, advanced like a wall. When within
three hundred yards, the men knelt down and opened fire, in volleys of
sections. At the same instant the Dervishes, with difficulty restrained
until now, opened fire in return.

The Maxims, and the storm of British bullets swept the wood, filling
the air with a shower of falling leaves. Gregory murmured a prayer,
shut his eyes, and awaited death.

Suddenly he felt his ropes slacken and fall from him, and a voice said,
"Drop on your face, master!"

Almost mechanically he obeyed, too astonished even to think what was
happening; then a body fell across him.

"Lie still and don't move, master. They must think you are dead."

"Is it you, Zaki?" Gregory said, scarcely able, even now, to believe
that it was his faithful follower.

"It is I, master. I have been in the camp three days, and have never
had a chance of getting near you, before."

"Brave fellow! good friend!" Gregory said, and then was silent.

Speech was almost inaudible, amid the roar of battle. The pipes of the
Camerons could, however, be heard above the din. The men advanced
steadily, in line, maintaining their excellent volley firing. The three
other regiments, in close order, followed; bearing away farther to the
right, so as to be able to open fire and advance. On that side the
black regiments were advancing no less steadily, and the half brigade
of Egyptians were as eager as any. Steadily and well under control, all
pushed forward at a run; firing occasionally, but thirsting to get hand
to hand with those who had desolated their land, destroyed their
villages, and slain their friends.

The British were suffering, but the blacks suffered more; for the
volleys of the Camerons kept down the fire of those opposed to them,
better than the irregular fire of the Soudanese. The latter, however,
first reached the zareba; and, regardless of thorns or of fire, dashed
through it with triumphant shouts, and fell upon the defenders.

It was but a minute or two later that the Camerons reached the hedge.
Formidable as it looked, it took them but a short time to tear down
gaps, through which they rushed; while close behind them the Seaforths,
the Lincolns, and the Warwicks were all in, bursting through the low
stockade and trenches behind it, and cheering madly.

Now, from their holes and shelters, the Dervishes started up. Brave
though they were, the storm that had burst upon them with such
suddenness scared t