The next day, 29th January, the _Talahawiyeh_ struck on a rock in the Shabloka Cataract, and must be abandoned. The British were transhipped to the _Bordein_, the natives bivouacked on an island. Next day the natives were sent on ahead in the _nuggar_, hitherto towed by the _Talahawiyeh_, and the _Bordein_ followed. The day after, 31st January, during the afternoon, the _Bordein_ struck a rock, began to fill, and was run on shore upon a small island close to the large Mernat Island. When the accident occurred, Sir Charles Wilson was just preparing to run at full speed past the fort and battery of Wad Habeshi, which lay on the left hand some three and a half miles lower down. Mernat Island lies about 35 miles above Gubat by land, and nearly 40 by river. Sir Charles Wilson landed guns, ammunition and stores. At first he intended to make a night march down on the right bank; but he changed his plan and decided to remain where he was for the night. Lieutenant Stuart-Wortley was dispatched to carry the news to Gubat in one of the two small boats, a felucca. He left at 6.45 p.m., taking a crew of four English soldiers and eight natives. They were fired at and missed by the Wad Habeshi fort; and working splendidly, traversed the 40 miles in a little over eight hours, arriving at Gubat, as already related, at 3 a.m. on the morning of 1st February. Stuart-Wortley and his men faced death every mile of the way; and their voyage deserves to be remembered as a bold, determined and gallant achievement. {295} CHAPTER XXXI THE SOUDAN WAR (_Continued_) IX. THE RESCUE "And while lying near Metemmeh He went--many a time you know-- Up the river in his steamer, Dealing havoc on the foe; And each gallant tar and Jollie That was with him, fighting there, Now would follow without question, Let him lead them, anywhere." _Songs of the Camel Corps_ (Sergeant H. EAGLE, R.M.C.C.) [The men used to sing 'Our Navy on the Nile,' of which the above is an excerpt; but the rest is so complimentary to the author, that he is obliged to omit it.]