“Are there any casualties?” Jack shouted.
The runners returned with the news. “No casualties in Number Two Company, sir.”
“One man with a slight wound on his arm, in Number One Company, sir.”
“No, casualties in Number Three Company, sir.”
Jack ordered the wounded man to be taken to the hospital in Alexandria and peered down the railway line through his field glasses. “I can see smoke, probably from a train. That may mean that Arabi is bringing up reinforcements.” He glanced around his men. “Heliograph General Alison and tell him we have had an exchange of artillery, and Arabi may be reinforcing his position.”
Alison responded promptly by sending a wing of the South Devonshires and two naval nine pounders. When the South Devonshires arrived by train, Private Kerswell of the Malverns gr
