The battle was still raging. The sun had begun to sink, its scattered rays falling across the blood-red river and lending the scene an eerie air, like the River of the Underworld.
Most of the rafts used to cross the river had already been lost in the fighting, yet the enemy's position remained as steady as a mountain.
Even the small units that managed to cross were beaten back by the French Army's stubborn resistance and forced to return.
This was not desertion. By European custom, soldiers who had run out of ammunition were allowed to surrender, and the Austrian Army was no exception.
The soldiers taking part in the surprise attack had all been trained to swim. The Suez Canal alone could not stop them.
Besides, rafts shattered by cannon fire lay scattered across the water, providing them with a means of escape. There was no need to surrender.
But the way back was no smooth sailing. French soldiers kept firing at the river. Fortunately, the French Army had not yet equipped itself with machine guns on a large scale. Otherwise, the retreating troops would have had no chance at all.
Lowering his binoculars, Colonel Bodeman gave up his last shred of hope. His expression turned savage, as if he were locked in a fierce inner struggle.
"Order the artillery to adjust its aim toward the opposite embankment. Load solid shot and attack with everything we've got!"
For the sake of the canal's safety, both France and Austria had used explosive shells from the start of the battle. Solid shot had only been used occasionally, and then against the enemy's fortifications.
The chief of staff beside him warned, "Colonel, bringing down the opposite embankment will block the canal. By then..."
Colonel Bodeman waved him off. "Wrong. We're only attacking