At Gakdul the wells were large pools in the rock, at the foot of one of the spurs of the hill, two miles from the line of the caravan route.

Here the water was beautifully clear, and abundant enough for the wants of a large force.
"It is lucky I had you with me, Zaki, for I should certainly have gone straight on past the wells, without knowing where they were; and as there are no others this side of Abu Klea, I should have had rather a bad day." The three forts which the Guards had built, when they came on in advance of General Stewart's column, were still standing; as well as a number of smaller ones, which had been afterwards added.
"It is rather a bad place for being caught, Zaki, for the ground is so broken, and rocky, that the Dervishes might creep up without being seen." "Yes, sir, it is a bad place," Zaki agreed.

"I am glad that none of the Dervishes were here, for we should not have seen them, until we were quite close." Zaki had, on the road, cut a large faggot of dried sticks, and a fire was soon lighted.
"You must give the horses a good allowance of grain," Gregory said, "for they will be able to pick up nothing here, and it is a long ride to Abu Klea." "We shall have to be very careful there, my lord.

It is not so very far from Metemmeh, and we are very likely to find Baggaras at the wells.

It was there they met the English force that went through to Metemmeh.
"I think it would be better for us to halt early, this evening, and camp at the foot of Jebel Sergain.