They were led by their emirs, on horseback; but the infantry kept pace with these, occasionally discharging their rifles at random.
The guns of the three batteries, and one of the Maxims, were swung round and opened upon them.

They were less than a mile away, and the whole of Gatacre's division opened a terrific fire.

Still the Dervishes held on, leaving the ground they passed over white with fallen men.
From seventeen hundred yards the sights had to be lowered rapidly, but at a thousand yards they held their foe.

No man could cross the ground swept by the hail of balls.

So rapid and sustained was the fire, that men had to retire to refill their pouches from the reserve ammunition, and the rifles were so heated that they could no longer be held.