about noon
One morning , New Gondar was awakened by the booming of cannon . It was the first intimation that the townspeople had received that the enemy was forcing the imperial troops back upon the city . Dust covered couriers galloped in from the front . Fresh troops hastened from the city , and about noon Menelek rode out surrounded by his staff . For three days thereafter we could hear the cannonading and the spitting of the small arms , for the battle line was scarce two leagues from New Gondar . The city was filled with wounded . Just outside , soldiers were engaged in throwing up earthworks .