hem, and none attempted to arrest the course of the
Highlanders and red coats. Firing as they ran, the Dervishes made for
the river. Many remained in their pits till the last, firing at the
soldiers as they rushed past, and meeting their death at the point of
the bayonet.

Hotly the troops pursued, often falling into the pits, which were half
hidden by thorns and long grass. There was no attempt at regularity in
these holes--nothing to show where they were. It was a wild and
confused combat. The officers kept their men as well together as it was
possible, on such ground; but it was sharp work, for from flank and
rear, as well as in front, the shots rang out from their hidden foes,
and these had to be despatched as they pushed forward.

As the troops burst through, Gregory sprang to his feet, seized a rifle
that had dropped from the hands of a Dervish who had fallen close by
and--shouting to Zaki "Lie still as if dead!"--joined the first line of
troops. No questions were asked. Every man's attention was fixed on the
work before him, and no thought was given to this white officer, who
sprang from they knew not where. He had no cartridges, and the
Dervishes did not carry bayonets; but, holding the rifle club-wise, he
kept in the front line, falling into pits and climbing out again,
engaged more than once with desperate foemen.

Striking and shouting, he fought on until the troops reached the river
bank; and, having cleared all before them, poured volleys into the mass
of fugitives crossing its dry bed. Other hordes were seen away to the
left, similarly driven out by Lewis's Egyptians, by whom a terrible
fire was kept up until the last of the fugitives disappeared in the
scrub on the opposite bank, leaving the river bed thickly dotted with
dead bodies; while, on the right, Macdonald's and Maxwell's blacks
similarly cleared the wood.

Then the Soudanese and whites alike burst into cheers. Men shook each
other by the hand, while they waved their helmets over their heads. The
Soudanese leapt and danced like delighted children. Presently an
officer left a group of others, who had been congratulating each other
on their glorious victory, and came up to Gregory.

"May I ask who you are, sir?" he said, courteously but coldly.

"Certainly, sir. My name is Hilliard. I have been a captive in the
hands of the Dervishes; who, when you attacked, tied me to the stump of
a tree as a target for your bullets; and I should certainly ha