They endured great hardships, for everything was left behind save the clothes the men and officers stood in, and one hundred rounds of ammunition each, only one pint of water being allowed per head. The country was a desert, covered with interlacing thorn bushes. An eight days' march brought the force to a village which was considered sacred, as it contained the grave of the Khalifa's father and the house where the Khalifa himself had been born. Three days later they reached the abandoned camp of the Khalifa, a wide tract that had been cleared of bush. A great multitude of dwellings constructed of spear-grass stretched away for miles, and at the very lowest compilation it had contained twenty thousand people, of which it was calculated that from eight thousand to ten thousand must have been fighting men, ten times as many as had before been reported to be with the Khalifa.
A reconnaissance showed that a large army was waiting to give battle on a hill which was of great strength, surrounded by deep ravines and pools of water. The position was an anxious one. The total force was about fourteen hundred strong, and a defeat would mean annihilation, while even a victory would scarcely secure the capture of the Khalifa, who with his principal emirs, Osman Digna, El Khatim the Sheik of El Obeid, the Sheik Ed Din, and Fadil, would be able to gallop off if they saw the battle going against them. Colonel Kitchener had the wisdom to decide against risking the destruction of his followers by an assault against so great a force posted in so strong a position. It was a deep mortification to him to have to retreat, and the soldiers were bitterly disappointed, but their commander felt that, brave as the Egyptians and Soudanese had shown themselves, the odds against victory were too great. After a terrible march and great sufferings from thirst and scanty food the force reached Koli on the 5th of February, and were conveyed in steamers down to Omdurman.
After this somewhat unfortunate affair, which naturally added to the prestige of the Khalifa, the months passed uneventfully, but late in October preparations were made for an aflfeck upon a large scale against the Khalifa's camp, and eight thousand men were concentrated at Karla on the White Nile. It was known that the Khalifa was at Gedir, eighty miles away, but after proceeding half the distance it was found that he had marched away, and the column returned, as pursuit through a densely-wooded country would have been impracticable.
The gun-boats had gone up the river with a flying column under Colonel Lewis, to check any of the Khalifa's forces that attempted to establish themselves on the banks. Mounted troops and transport were at once concentrated, and Colonel Wingate was sent up to take command. The force consisted of a brigade of infantry under Colonel Lewis, with the 9th and 13th Soudanese, an irregular Soudanese battalion, a company of the 2nd Egyptians, six companies of camel corps, a squadron of cavalry, a field-battery, six Maxims, and detachments of medical and supply departments, with a camel transport train to carry rations and three days' water—in all, three thousand seven hundred men.
On the afternoon of the 21st of November the column moved forward, and favoured by a bright moonlight made a march of fifteen miles, the cavalry scouting two miles in front, the flanks and rear being covered by the camel corps. Native reports had brought in information that Fadil, who had been raiding the country, was now in the neighbourhood on his way to rejoin the main Dervish army, which was lying near Cadi. The cavalry pushed forward at dawn and found that Fadil had retreated, leaving a quantity of grain behind. A sick Dervish who had remained there said that the Dervishes had moved to a point seven miles away. The cavalry, camel corps, and some of the guns advanced and seized a position within three hundred yards of the Dervish encampment, on which they immediately opened fire.
The rest of the guns were at once pushed forward to reinforce them, and arrived in time to assist them in repulsing a fierce attack of the Dervishes. Owing to the nature of the ground these were able to approach to within sixty yards of
the guns before coming under their fire. They were then mowed down by the guns and Maxims and the musketry fire of the camel corps, to which was added that of the infantry brigade when they arrived. This was too much even for Dervish valour to withstand, and they fled back to their camp. The British force then advanced. They met with but little opposition, and as they entered the camp they saw the enemy in full flight. The infantry followed them for a mile and a half, while the cavalry and camel corps kept up the pursuit for five miles. Fadil's camp, containing a large amount of grain and other stores, fell into the hands of the captors, with a number of prisoners, including women and children, and animals. Four hundred Dervishes had fallen, great numbers had been wounded, while the British casualties amounted to a native officer of the camel corps dangerously wounded, one man killed, and three wounded.
Gregory had accompanied Colonel Wingate and acted as one of his staff-officers. He had of course brought his horse with him. It was an excellent animal, and had been used by him in all his excursions from Omdurman. ' That is rather a different affair from the fight on the Atbara, Zaki,' he said, when the force gathered in Fadil's camp after the pursuit was relinquished; 'the Dervishes fought just as bravely, but in one case they had a strong position to defend, while to-day they took the offensive; it makes all the difference.'
' I am glad to have seen some fighting again, master, for it has been dull work stopping ten months in Omdurman with nothing to do but ride about the country and decide upon the villagers' quarrels.'
' It has been useful work, Zaki, and I consider nryself very fortunate in being so constantly employed. I was desperately afraid that Colonel Wingate would leave me there, and I was greatly relieved when he told me that I was to come with him. It is a fortunate thing that we have beaten our old enemy, Fadil, here; in the first place, because if the three or four thousand men he had with him had joined the Khalifa it would have given us harder work in to-morrow's fight, and in the next place his arrival, with his followers who have escaped, at the Khalifa's camp is not likely to inspirit the Dervishes there.'
Gregory was occupied all the afternoon in examining the prisoners. They affirmed that they had left the former camp three days before with the intention of proceeding to Gedid, where Fadil was to join the Khalifa with captured grain, when the whole Dervish force was to march north. The troops slept during the afternoon, and in the evening set out for Gedid, which they reached at ten o'clock the next morning. A Dervish deserter reported that the Khalifa was encamped seven miles to the south-east. Fortunately, a pool with sufficient water for the whole force was found at Gedid, which was a matter of great importance, for otherwise the expedition must have fallen back.
It was hoped that the Khalifa would now stand at bay, as our occupation of Gedid barred his advance north. Behind him was a waterless and densely-wooded district. The capture of the grain on which he had relied would render it impossible for him to remain long in his present position, and his only chance of extricating himself was to stand and fight.
After twelve hours' rest the troops were roused, and started a few minutes after midnight. The transport was left under a strong guard near the water, with orders to follow four hours later. The cavalry, with two Maxims, moved in advance, and the camel corps on the flanks. The ground was thickly wooded; in many places a way had to be cut for the guns. At three o'clock news was received from the cavalry that the enemy's camp was but three miles distant from the point which the infantry had reached, and that they and the Maxims had halted two miles ahead at the foot of some slightly rising ground, beyond which the scouts had on the previous day discovered the main force of the enemy to be stationed. The infantry continued to advance slowly and cautiously, making as little noise as possible.
It was soon evident, however, that in spite of their caution the enemy were aware of their approach, as there was an outburst of the beating of drums and the blowing of war-horns. This did not last long, but it was enough to show that the Dervishes were not to be taken by surprise. When the infantry reached the spot where the cavalry were halted, the latter's scouts were withdrawn and the infantry pickets thrown out, and the troops then lay down to await daybreak. The officers chatted together in low tones; there were but two hours till dawn, and with the prospect of heavy fighting before them none were inclined to sleep. The question Avas, whether the Dervishes would defend their camp or attack. The result of the battle of Omdurman should have taught them that it was impossible to come to close quarters in the face of the terrible fire of our rifles. Fadil could give his experience at Gedareh, which would teach the same lesson. On the other hand, the storming of the Dervish camp on the Atbara and the fight at Rosaires would both seem to show them that the assault of the Egyptian force was irresistible. As Gregory had been present at all four of these battles he was asked to give his opinion.
' I think that they will attack,' he said. ' The Dervish leaders rely upon the enthusiasm of their followers, and in almost all the battles we have fought here they have rushed forward to the assault. It was so in all the fights down by the Red Sea; it was so in the attacks on Lord 'Wolseley's desert column; it succeeded against Hicks and Baker's forces; and even now they do not seem to have recognized that the Egyptians, whom they once despised, have quite got over their dread of them, and are able to face them steadily.'
There was only the faintest light in the sky when firing broke out in front. Everyone leapt to his feet and stood
