midnight
These , on being questioned , said that the Emir Saadalla , who commanded , had but two hundred rifles and six hundred spearmen , and had received orders from Fadil to surrender . Subsequent events showed that they had been carefully tutored as to the reply to be given . The force halted here , as Gedareh was still twelve miles away ; and it was thought better that , if there was fighting , they should be fresh . At midnight , a deserter from the Dervishes came in , with the grave news that the Emir had three thousand five hundred men , and was awaiting them two miles outside the town . There was another informal council of war , but all agreed that a retreat , through this difficult country , would bring about the total annihilation of the force ; and that there was nothing to do but to fight . Early in the morning , they started again . For the first two hours , the road led through grass so high that even the men on camels could not see above it .