III.

Soon[1] darkness came down rapidly upon us. The rattle and roar of[2] combat on[3] our left never ceased, and it was evident that the two thousand Infantry[4] at Kassassin were hard pressed. Presently[5] the moonlight streamed palely over the grey sand, but the clouds of dust obscured[6] the advancing horsemen, who sometimes trotted, sometimes[7] walked.

By about seven o’clock we had got in the rear of the firing[8], and[9] wheeled in that direction, advancing[10] very slowly to[11] allow the Artillery to[12] come up. We could see the flashes of[13] the enemy’s artillery _gleam_ on the horizon like the flicker of incessant summer lightning[14].

We slowly drew[15] nearer to the scene of conflict. It was almost dark[16], but, unfortunately, we showed up[17] a black mass against the bright moonlit sky and ground[18], and[19] the sudden rush of shell through the air, followed[20] by an explosion far in our rear, showed that the enemy had at last discovered us. They[21] were about fifteen hundred yards[22] away, and[23] we saw nine flashes, one after another, at short intervals, spurt out, no[24] longer like sheet lightning, but in angry jets of flame. Almost simultaneously the sky above us seemed to[24] be torn in pieces as by (= through) a mighty hurricane. Shells screamed[25] and burst[26], and shrapnel bullets[27] tore up the sand on either side of us.

The brigade now moved[28] to the right to[29] disconcert their aim, and the next salvo of shell missed us. We moved quickly forward, and the gunners again saw us, and the shells burst over and around. Yet, strangely[30], but few were hit, though it seemed as if the storm[31] would mow men and horses down by squadrons[32].

[1] = Soon after (+darauf+) the darkness (+Dunkel+, n.) of the night descended (+hernie´dersteigen+) rapidly upon us.

[2] = of the.

[3] +zu.+

[4] +Infanteristen.+

[5] = Now streamed the pale moonlight, etc.

[6] = concealed; horsemen, +Reiterei+, f. Sing.

[7] +zuweilen auch im Schritt dahinritt.+

[8] = enemy; got = arrived.

[9] +und schwenkten der Richtung zu, aus der das Schießen kam.+

[10] = advanced (+vor´wärtsreiten+) however only very slowly.

[11] to allow = to (S. 19, N. 7) give time to.

[12] Inf. +heran´kommen+.

[13] = of the hostile artillery.

[14] = sheet lightning, +Wetterleuchten+, n.

[15] to draw near, +sich nähern+.

[16] The fact of its being dark soon after seven at the end of August is explained when we remember that there is no twilight in Egypt.

[17] = we formed.

[18] +Erdboden+, m.

[19] +und das Sausen einer plötzlich die Luft durchfliegenden Bombe.+

[20] = which exploded far behind us.

[21] = He (the enemy).

[22] = steps, +Schritte+; away, +von uns entfernt+.

[23] Arrange this sentence literally thus: and now saw we nine at (+in+) short intervals one another (+einander+) following cannon-shots (+Kanonenschüsse+) spurt out (+hervor´blitzen+).

[24] +welche nicht mehr dem Wetterleuchten, sondern verzehrenden Feuerströmen glichen+; to — pieces, +zu zerreißen+.

[25] +sausen.+

[26] +platzen ... in der Luft.+

[27] +Granaten.+

[28] +ab´schwenken.+

[29] +um dem Ziele des Feindes aus dem Wege zu gehen.+

[30] +sonderbarerweise.+

[31] +der Kugelregen.+

[32] men and horses by squadrons = whole squadrons of (+von+) men (+Menschen+) and horses.—To mow down, +hernie´dermähen+.

_Section 176._

THE BATTLE OF KASSASSIN.