six o'clock
The camel men reconnoitred the ground , for some little distance round , and saw no signs of the enemy . They camped , however , in the form of a square ; and lay with their arms beside them , in readiness to resist an attack . The night passed quietly , and at early dawn they moved forward again . At six o'clock the camel men exchanged a few shots with the Dervish scouts , who fell back at once . At eight a village was sighted , and the force advanced upon it , in fighting order . It was found , however , to have been deserted , except by a few old people . 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 .