ABSTRACT
L u c k had favoured Kitchener during the opening days of his advance into the Black Country. It was most fortunate for the Sirdar that Hammuda was so congenitally indolent that he had permitted the Government forces to fortify Akasha without even attempting to harass their lines of communication. Fortune was most propitious to the Khedivial troops when it awoke Hammuda from his torpidity long enough for him to accept battle at Firket.
