While all this had been going on, the advance of the army on Omdurman was continuing.  Nor was it long before we saw the imposing array of infantry topping the sandhills near Surgham and flooding out into the plain which lay between them and the city.  High over the centre brigade flew the Black Flag of the Khalifa, and underneath a smaller flash of red marked the position of the Headquarters Staff.  The black masses of men continued to move slowly across the open ground while we fired at the flying Arabs, and at twelve o’clock we saw them halt near the river about three miles from the city.  Orders now reached us to join them, and as the sun was hot, the day dragged, all were tired and hungry, and the horses needed water, we were not long in complying, and the remnants of the Dervish army made good their retreat unmolested.

We marched back to the Nile.  The whole force had halted to drink, to eat, and to rest at Khor Shambat.  The scene was striking.  Imagine a six hundred yards stretch of the Suez Canal.  Both banks are crowded with brown- or chocolate-clad figures.  The northern side is completely covered with the swarming infantry of the British division.  Thousands of animals—­the horses of the cavalry, the artillery mules, the transport camels—­fill the spaces and the foreground.  Multitudes of khaki-clad men are sitting in rows on the slopes.  Hundreds are standing by the brim or actually in the red muddy water.  All are drinking deeply.  Two or three carcasses, lying in the shallows, show that the soldiers are thirsty rather than particular.  On all sides water-bottles are being filled from the welcome Nile, which has come into the desert to refresh the weary animals and men.

During the attack on MacDonald’s brigade the Egyptian cavalry had watched from their position on the southern slopes of the Kerreri Hills, ready to intervene, if necessary, and support the infantry by a charge.  As soon as the Dervish onsets had ended and the whole mass had begun to retreat, Broadwood’s cavalry brigade formed in two lines, of four and of five squadrons respectively, and advanced in pursuit—­first west for two miles, and then south-west for three miles more towards the Round-topped Hill.  Like the 21st Lancers, they were delayed by many Dervishes who threw down their arms and surrendered, and whom it was necessary to escort to the river.  But as they drew nearer the mass of the routed army, it became apparent that the spirit of the enemy was by no means broken.  Stubborn men fired continually as they lay wounded, refusing to ask for quarter—­ doubting, perhaps, that it would be granted.  Under every bush that gave protection from the lances of the horsemen little groups collected to make a desperate stand.  Solitary spearmen awaited unflinching the charge of a whole squadron.  Men who had feigned death sprang up to fire an unexpected shot.  The cavalry began to suffer occasional casualties.  In proportion as they advanced the resistance of the