ten o'clock
Then the enemy advanced in two long lines , with banners flying , five thousand of them , an imposing spectacle , and the English soldiers grasped their weapons , thinking that the struggle had come at last . But not yet was it to be . The enemy declined to push the attack home , but halted at a distance , keeping up a galling fire . So , as men began to drop , and the day was slipping on , General Stewart determined at ten o'clock to take the initiative . The camels and other encumbrances were left in the zereba with a guard , and the square advanced , working round the left of the enemy 's position . The Arabs retreated , and some of our young soldiers began to anticipate an easy victory . But the enemy showed that they too could manoeuvre ; suddenly wheeling to the left , they came down like an avalanche on the rear of the square , bearing back the men composing it , and breaking in at one of the corners .