Arab in the wood: as they had not succeeded in stopping me, they realised that they would have been caught between two fires had they remained.

As soon as we had collected sufficient men we again charged the main body of Arabs, and were surprised at their stubborn resistance; for it is generally easy to keep a body of men moving who have once started retreating. During this part of the engagement our right flank was attacked. The enemy kept up a well-sustained steady fire, which approached yet seemed to advance on our front obliquely; then the main body, which we were attacking in front, gave way, and we continued to fire on the troops advancing on the right flank. Presently we heard a drum, which we recognised as belonging to our allies, and immediately ceased fire.

[The diagram shown above explains what happened.]