one o'clock
The tents had been left behind , and as the little blanket shelters were soon soaked through , their occupants were speedily wet to the skin . It was still raining when , at half-past five , the force again started . As before , the army was marching in fighting order . The day was cool and cloudy , and at one o'clock they halted at a village called Merreh , or Seg . The cavalry had come into touch with the Dervish patrols , but the latter , although numerous , avoided combat . In one of the deserted villages was found one of Wingate 's spies , in Dervish attire . He had left Omdurman thirty hours before , and brought the news that the Khalifa intended to attack at Kerreri .