They were propelled by a stern wheel.
At half-past nine the Zafir's whistle gave the signal, and she and her consorts--the Nazie and Fatteh--cast off their warps, and steamed out into the river.

Each boat had on board two European engineers, fifty men of the 9th Soudanese, two sergeants of royal marine artillery, and a small native crew.
"I expect that we shall not make many more trips down to Berber," the Commander said, when they were once fairly off.

"The camp at Atbara will be our headquarters, unless indeed Mahmud advances; in which case, of course, we shall be recalled.

Until then we shall be patrolling the river up to Metemmeh; and making, I hope, an occasional rush as far as the next cataract." When evening came on, the steamer tied up to an island, a few miles north of Shendy.

So far they had seen no hostile parties--indeed, the country was wholly deserted.
Next morning they started before daybreak.