The guns had limbered up and pushed on, and the rear guard remained, surrounded by the enemy, hampered with its wounded, and stranded with doolies.
As the native bearers had fled these doolies were, in many cases, being carried by the native officers.
The enemy grew more and more daring, and a few yards, only, divided the combatants.

Captain Uniacke, retiring with a few of the Gordons, saw that there was only one course left: they must entrench for the night.

He was in advance of the actual rear guard, attempting to hold a house against the fire of quite a hundred tribesmen.
Collecting four men of his regiment, and shouting wildly, he rushed at the doorway.

In the dusk the enemy were uncertain of the number of their assailants and, in their horror of the bayonet, they fired one wild volley and fled.

To continue the ruse, Captain Uniacke climbed to the roof, shouting words of command, as if he had a company behind him.