The second act of the battle began at 8.30, when
the whole of our force marched from their position in the direction of Omdurman, the position on the extreme right being held by Macdonald's Sondanese and Egyptian brigade. The broken ground caused some trouble, and the opportunity thus offered was seized by the Dervishes for a second and final attack. This was concentrated upon Macdonald's brigade, and for a few minutes it looked as if that gallant officer's command must be broken by the masses of the enemy who were enveloping them. Wauchope's British brigade and Lewis's Egyptians were, however, swift to come to the rescue, and Macdonald, manceuvring his force with great skill and presence of mind, managed to drive off the attack. Many of the Dervishes, nevertheless, fell within a few paces of Macdonald's gallant troops. It was here that several of the fellaheen regiments showed themselves not only disciplined, but courageous, and won the praise of the whole army. When the second attack had proved unsuccessful the Dervishes finally broke and fled in confusion, followed by the cavalry and the Camel Corps, and shelled, as they bad been throughout the day, by the gunboats on the river. After resting his troops for two hours—the battle was fought under a sun so fierce that the metal parts of the guns burnt the soldiers' hands—the Sirdar entered Omdurman, released Nenfeld and the other prisoners, and entered the Khalifa's stronghold. Almost as the Sirdar entered, the Khalifa fled with a few followers, but though he was instantly pursued, his capture has not yet been effected. In all probability it will not be long before we hear of his death. Ruined despots in the East are seldom long lived.
