Next day they halted at Hebbeh, where Colonel Stewart, on his way down with a number of refugees from Khartoum, was treacherously murdered.

A portion of the steamer was still visible in the river.
Day after day the column plodded on, for the most part strung out in single file, the line extending over many miles; and, late on the evening of the 6th of August, they reached a spot within a mile and a half of Abu Hamed, the hundred and eighteen miles having been accomplished in seven days and a half.
So far as they knew, the enemy had, as yet, received no news of their approach.

Three hours' rest was given the troops, and then they marched out, in order of battle.
A fair idea of the position had been obtained from the friendly natives.

Abu Hamed lay on the river.

The desert sloped gradually down to it, on all sides; with a sharp, deep descent within two hundred yards of the town.