It was not even necessary to adjust sights, as the enemy were within
"point-blank" range. Enfilading the enemy these guns were raking his flank
with fire, whilst he was preparing to make a final rush down into the wadi.
Had not this move been circumvented in the "nick of time," it is
impossible to estimate the disastrous consequences which would have ensued.
Almost at once, the deadly fire of the two machine-guns began to tell their
tale, and odd Turks here and there suddenly remembered "a very urgent
appointment". Within an hour the top of this hill was cleared, and the
enemy were seen to be concentrating on the further ridge. From this
vantage-point he kept up a brisk fire, both with machine-guns and rifles,
and it was an extremely risky undertaking to show one's head above the
particular rock behind which one was taking cover. Their fire, however, was
returned with interest, and it helped to make "Johnny" arrive at the
decision that it would be a very unwise thing to attack again that day,
although he _did_ once make a half-hearted attempt to regain his former
position, which was promptly frustrated.
This state of things continued throughout the day, but the exposed position
of these two guns began to make itself very evident, as the enemy's field
guns, firing from the right flank, began to get the "hang of things" there.
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