Two small guns were in place.

He had them trained on that portion of the advancing infantry of Ali Wad Hei not yet covered by his own forces.

Years of work and responsibility had made him master of many things, and long ago he had learned the work of an artilleryman.

In a moment a shot, well directed, made a gap in the ranks of the advancing foe.

An instant afterwards a shot from the other gun fired by the unwounded pasha, who, in his youth, had been an officer of artillery, added to the confusion in the swerving ranks, and the force hesitated; and now from Ebn Ezra Bey's river steamers, which had just arrived, there came a flank fire.