to be imprisoned for
two years.

The lads gained much credit by the capture, and were each presented with
a handsome gold watch and chain, subscribed for by those whose property
they had been the means of recovering.

CHAPTER XV.

A THREATENING SKY.

AT the end of July so large a number of troops had arrived that the
services of the sailors on shore were no longer required, and with the
exception of those serving with the iron-clad train they returned on
board, the marines, however, still remaining in the town. On the 4th of
August the lads heard that a reconnaissance would take place next day,
and that there would probably be a fight. Accordingly in the evening
they walked up to Ramleh, and slept for the night in one of the
deserted houses. The trains soon began to arrive loaded with troops, and
the boys took up their position near one of the batteries on the
sand-hills, where they could obtain an excellent view over the isthmus
between the lakes Mareotis and Aboukir.

The advance soon began; it was composed of six companies of the 60th
Rifles, four companies of the 38th, and four of the 46th. These were to
march by the canal, while seven companies of the marines moved along the
railway embankment in company with the iron-clad train. The two parties
were to join at the point where the canal and the railway approach
closely to each other. The ground between the two embankments consisted
of fields and marshy swamps.

The boys watched the 60th Rifles extending in skirmishing order, and as
soon as they began to advance a movement was visible in the enemy's
lines, and the Egyptians took up their position in a deep ditch across
the line of advance and opened a heavy fire upon the Rifles.

The Egyptians were altogether invisible, their position being only
marked by a light line of smoke rising in front of a thick jungle.
Fortunately they fired high, and the boys could see that the Rifles
continued advancing without much loss. When they neared the Egyptian
position the supports came up to the skirmishing line, and the whole
went forward at a rush. The instant they did so the Egyptians sprang
from their ditch and rushed into the jungle behind.

The column was intended to advance to a white house on the canal, at
the point where the railway came close to it; but its commander
misunderstanding his orders stopped at a white house before he came to
it. Thus the marines advancing along the embankment were left
un