With scarce a cry David's men fell on the
unprepared foe; and he himself, on a grey Arab, a mark for any lance or
spear and rifle, rode upon that point where Ali Wad Hei's tent was set.
But after the first onset, in which hundreds were killed, there began the
real noise of battle--fierce shouting, the shrill cries of wounded and
maddened horses as they struck with their feet, and bit as fiercely at
the fighting foe as did their masters. The mist cleared slowly, and, when
it had wholly lifted, the fight was spread over every part of the field
of siege. Ali Wad Hei's men had gathered themselves together after the
first deadly onslaught, and were fighting fiercely, shouting the Muslim
battle-cry, "Allah hu achbar!" Able to bring up reinforcements, the great
losses at first sustained were soon made up, and the sheer weight of
numbers gave them courage and advantage. By rushes with lance and sword
and rifle they were able, at last, to drive David's men back upon their
old defences with loss. Then charge upon charge ensued, and each charge,
if it cost them much, cost the besieged more, by reason of their fewer
numbers.
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