In some cases the men changed their weapons for those of the companies in reserve, in others these companies closed up and took the places of the front line.

Not for a moment was there any cessation in the fire.
Unable to do more, Yacoub's men moved towards the front and joined the main body, whose advance had been checked by the fire of Maxwell's Egyptian brigade.

A few rounds had been fired by the three cannon that the Khalifa had brought out with him, but they all fell short.
On our side the casualties had been few.

In their desperate attempt to get at close quarters, the Dervish riflemen had not stopped to reload the weapons they had discharged, and there was practically no return to the awful fire to which they had been exposed.
But while Yacoub's force had been terribly punished, and the main body, brought to a standstill at a distance of fourteen hundred yards, had suffered almost as heavily, the battle had not gone so well to the right of our position, towards which the Khalifa was now moving.
Broadwood's horse, and the camel corps, had been driven off the hill they occupied; and so fierce was the attack that three of the guns of the horse battery had to be left behind.

The camel corps were ordered to retire rapidly, and make for shelter to the right rear of the camp.
The force made two or three stands, and the Egyptian cavalry more than once charged the pursuing horsemen.