from column into line without waiting for orders, so that two battalions faced towards the Khalifa and two towards the fresh attack.  By this time it was clear that the Khalifa was practically repulsed, and MacDonald ordered the Xth Soudanese and another battery to change front and prolong the line of the IXth and XIth.  He then moved the 2nd Egyptians diagonally to their right front, so as to close the gap at the angle between their line and that of the three other battalions.  These difficult manoeuvres were carried out under a heavy fire, which in twenty minutes caused over 120 casualties in the four battalions—­ exclusive of the losses in the artillery batteries—­and in the face of the determined attacks of an enemy who outnumbered the troops by seven to one and had only to close with them to be victorious.  Amid the roar of the firing and the dust, smoke, and confusion of the change of front, the general found time to summon the officers of the IXth Soudanese around him, rebuked them for having wheeled into line in anticipation of his order, and requested them to drill more steadily in brigade.

The three Soudanese battalions were now confronted with the whole fury of the Dervish attack from Kerreri.  The bravery of the blacks was no less conspicuous than the wildness of their musketry.  They evinced an extraordinary excitement—­firing their rifles without any attempt to sight or aim, and only anxious to pull the trigger, re-load, and pull it again.  In vain the British officers strove to calm their impulsive soldiers.  In vain they called upon them by name, or, taking their rifles from them, adjusted the sights themselves.  The independent firing was utterly beyond control.  Soon the ammunition began to be exhausted, and the soldiers turned round clamouring for more cartridges, which their officers doled out to them by twos and threes in the hopes of steadying them.  It was useless.  They fired them all off and clamoured for more.  Meanwhile, although suffering fearfully from the close and accurate fire of the three artillery batteries and eight Maxim guns, and to a less extent from the random firing of the Soudanese, the Dervishes drew nearer in thousands, and it seemed certain that there would be an actual collision.  The valiant blacks prepared themselves with delight to meet the shock, notwithstanding the overwhelming numbers of the enemy.  Scarcely three rounds per man remained throughout the brigade.  The batteries opened a rapid fire of case-shot.  Still the Dervishes advanced, and the survivors of their first wave of assault were scarcely 100 yards away.  Behind them both green flags pressed forward over enormous masses of armed humanity, rolling on as they now believed to victory.