The boy was then the slave of an Egyptian officer of the expedition.
The army had suffered much from want of water, but they had obtained plenty from a lake within three days' march from El Obeid.

From this point they were incessantly fired at, by the enemy.

On the second day they were attacked, but beat off the enemy, though with heavy loss to themselves.

The next day they pressed forward, as it was necessary to get to water; but they were misled by their guide, and at noon the Arabs burst down upon them, the square in which the force was marching was broken, and a terrible slaughter took place.

Then Hicks Pasha, with his officers, seeing that all was lost, gathered together and kept the enemy at bay with their revolvers, till their ammunition was exhausted.
After that they fought with their swords till all were killed, Hicks Pasha being the last to fall.