two minutes past five
At half past three the bugle sounded , and the troops were soon astir . The animals were watered and fed , and the men had a breakfast of cocoa or tea , with biscuits and tinned meat . At half past four Colonel Broadwood , commanding the Egyptian cavalry , sent out a squadron to the hills on the west , and another to Surgham Hill . The latter arrived at their destination at two minutes past five , when daylight had just broken . The officer in command saw at once that the Dervish army had been reinforced in the night , and were marching to attack us . News was at once sent back to the camp , where all was in readiness for an advance . No news could have been more welcome .