five o'clock
Among these were Commander Keppel and Prince Christian Victor , who were on board . Fortunately , another steamer soon came along and took the gyasses , with the ship-wrecked officers and crew on board , and towed them up to El Hejir . It had been intended to stay here some little time , but the Nile continued to rise to an altogether exceptional height , and part of the camp was flooded . At five o'clock , therefore , the Egyptian brigades started , with the guns on their right and the steamers covering their left , while the cavalry and camel corps were spread widely out , in advance to give notice of any approaching Dervish force . As usual the soldiers ' wives turned out , and as the battalions marched past , shouted encouragement to their husbands ; calling upon them to behave like men , and not to turn back in battle . The presence of the women had an excellent effect on the soldiers , and in addition to their assistance in carrying their effects , they cooked their rations , and looked after them generally . The Sirdar , therefore , did not discourage their presence in the field , and even supplied them with rations , when it was impossible for them to obtain them elsewhere .