and by fifties to fly.  Instantly the hungry and attentive Maxims and the watchful infantry opened on them, sweeping them all to the ground—­ some in death, others in terror.  Again the shells followed them to their new concealment.  Again they rose, fewer than before, and ran.  Again the Maxims and the rifles spluttered.  Again they fell.  And so on until the front of the zeriba was clear of unwounded men for at least half a mile.  A few escaped.  Some, notwithstanding the vices of which they have been accused and the perils with which they were encompassed, gloriously carried off their injured comrades.

After the attack had been broken, and while the front of the zeriba was being cleared of the Dervish riflemen, the 21st Lancers were again called upon to act.  The Sirdar and his generals were all agreed on one point.  They must occupy Omdurman before the Dervish army could get back there.  They could fight as many Dervishes as cared to come in the plain; among the houses it was different.  As the Khalifa had anticipated, the infidels, exulting in their victory, were eager, though for a different reason, to seize the city.  And this they were now in a position to do.  The Arabs were out in the desert.  A great part of their army was even as far away as Kerreri.  The troops could move on interior lines.  They were bound to reach Omdurman first.  The order was therefore given to march on the city at once.  But first the Surgham ridge must be reconnoitred, and the ground between the zeriba and Omdurman cleared of the Dervishes—­ with infantry if necessary, but with cavalry if possible, because that would be quicker.

As the fusillade slackened, the Lancers stood to their horses.  Then General Gatacre, with Captain Brooke and the rest of his Staff, came galloping along the rear of the line of infantry and guns, and shouted for Colonel Martin.  There was a brief conversation—­an outstretched arm pointing at the ridge—­an order, and we were all scrambling into our saddles and straightening the ranks in high expectation.  We started at a trot, two or three patrols galloping out in front, towards the high ground, while the regiment followed in mass—­a great square block of ungainly brown figures and little horses, hung all over with water-bottles, saddle-bags, picketing-gear, tins of bully-beef, all jolting and jangling together; the polish of peace gone; soldiers without glitter; horsemen without grace; but still a regiment of light cavalry in active operation against the enemy.

The crest of the ridge was only half a mile away.  It was found unoccupied.  The rocky mass of Surgham obstructed the view and concealed the great reserve collected around the Black Flag.  But southward, between us and Omdurman, the whole plain was exposed.  It was infested with small parties of Dervishes, moving about, mounted and on foot, in tens and twenties.  Three miles away a broad stream of fugitives, of wounded, and of deserters flowed from the Khalifa’s army