Five Companies Of The Camel Corps, A Maxim Gun Section, And The
Ninth Squadron Of Cavalry Followed As A Rear-Guard Under Major Tudway.
The Dervish Horsemen Contented Themselves With Firing Occasional Shots,
Which Were Replied To By The Camel Corps With Volleys Whenever The Ground
Was Suited To Dismounted Action.
From time to time one of the more daring
Arabs would gallop after the retreating squadrons, but a shot from a
carbine or a threatened advance always brought the adventurous horseman
to a halt.
The retirement was continued without serious interference,
and the boggy ground of the Khor Shambat was recrossed in safety.
As soon as the Egyptian squadrons - a darker mass under the dark hills
to the westward - were seen to be in retirement, the 21st Lancers were
withdrawn slowly along the sandy ridge towards the rocks of Surgham -
the position whence we had first seen the Dervish army. The regiment
wheeled about and fell back by alternate wings, dropping two detached
troops to the rear and flanks to make the enemy's patrols keep their
distance. But when the Arab horsemen saw all the cavalry retiring they
became very bold, and numerous small groups of fives and sixes began to
draw nearer at a trot. Accordingly, whenever the ground was favourable,
the squadrons halted in turn for a few minutes to fire on them. In this
way perhaps half-a-dozen were killed or wounded. The others, however,
paid little attention to the bullets, and continued to pry curiously,
until at last it was thought necessary to send a troop to drive them away.
The score of Lancers galloped back towards the inquisitive patrols in the
most earnest fashion.
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