The Dervish trenches, about eighty yards away, appeared empty; and he was about to write a message to the General, saying that the place was deserted, when a sharp fire suddenly opened upon him.

He turned to ride back to warn the General, but he was too late; for, at the same moment, Hunter with his staff galloped up to the edge of the slope, and was immediately saluted by a heavy volley; which, however, was fired so wildly that none of the party was hit.
The artillery were now ordered to bombard the place.

At first, they could only fire at the tops of the houses; but, changing their position, they found a spot where they could command the town.

For half an hour this continued.

The infantry were drawn up just beyond the brow, where they could not be seen by the defenders.