camels to carry water for the field - hospital. The Hussars and camel corps to parade separately under Colonel Butler. General Brackenbury, Major Boyle, Major Slade, Captain Beaumont, and Lieutenant St Aubyn to accompany General Earle. All other staff officers to remain with the baggage, except Lieut.-Colonel Alleyne, who was instructed to take command of two companies of the Staffords and the two guns, and to occupy with them the rocky position held yesterday by our cavalry outposts, and to hold the enemy in check in front, attracting their attention in that direction while our flank movement was in progress. During the afternoon the enemy opened fire from a small island above Dulka island, and one of their shots having struck one of our vedettes, a company of the Staffords was sent across in boats to occupy the island and bivouack there. To reach the island, the boats had to ascend a nasty rapid just opposite our bivouac. All fires were put out at "lights out," and it was ordered that none should be lit before réveillé on the following day. About 3 P.M. a telegram arrived from Lord Wolseley to the following effectdated 9 A.M., 8th: The Government have decided that the Mahdi's power at Khartoum must be overthrown. This most probably means a campaign here next cold weather, and certainly the retention in the Soudan of all troops now here. A strong force of all arms goes as soon as possible to Suakim to crush Osman Digma. We must now take Berber. Buller will now take Metemmeh. Let me know early the date you calculate upon reaching Berber, so that Buller's force may co-operate with you. At 5.45 P.M. a long letter arrived from Lord Wolseley to General Earle, dated 2 P.M., 7th. It was almost entirely in cipher, and I sat up till late in the night deciphering its contents. In it Lord Wolseley in formed General Earle of the questions he had addressed to the Cabinet, the replies he had received, and his further queries. It amplified the contents of his telegram received that afternoon. It told us that he had not yet heard of Wilson's safety; and in it there was this sentence: "I congratulate you upon the progress you have made, although I am naturally very sorry the enemy have not tested the temper of your steel. However, let us hope their courage may be stiffened by the fall of Khartoum, and that you may strike them hard yet before you reach Berber." Hope soon to be realised! General Earle talked this letter over with me until a very late hour, and decided not to reply to it till after the action of the morrow. Two of our spies came in, and professed to have been unable to see any trace of the enemy in the position they had held during the day; and we retired to rest, half fearing they might again give us the slip, as they had done ten days before at Birti. But we were needlessly anxious. We did not then know that their courage had been stiffened — that they had heard of the fall of Khartoum. CHAPTER IX. KIRBEKAN-THE FIGHT. 10th Feb. At THE night passed without incident. |