ismailia-第39部分

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horses　were　saddled；　and；　attended　by　Lieutenant　Baker；　I　rode　hard　in
pursuit。　The　natives　had　gained　the　forest　and　had　scattered；　but　we
rode　a　red…painted　savage　to　bay；　who　fought　to　the　last；　shooting　two
arrows　at　me；　which　I　avoided　by　dropping　quickly　on　my　horse's　neck；
and　a　third　arrow　stuck　deeply　in　Mr。　Baker's　saddle　as　he　escaped　the
well…aimed　shot　by　spurring　his　horse　across　the　line　of　sight。　These
arrows　were　shot　at　a　distance　of　a　very　few　yards。　The　native　was
killed。

On　12th　July　the　Baris　attempted　to　surprise　both　my　station　and　the
camp　at　head…quarters。

On　the　13th　the　natives　repeated　the　attempt；　but　one　was　shot　dead　by
the　sentry　at　Gondokoro；　also　another　met　the　same　fate　at　my　station。

Nearly　every　night　we　were　subject　to　attempts　at　surprise。　This　was
excellent　practice　for　the　troops；　as　it　taught　them　the；　necessity　of
keeping　a　good　look…out；　at　the　same　time　it　was　very　wearying；　as　the
men　had　to　work　hard　all　day；　and　they　were　kept　awake　at　night。

The　Baris　were　irrepressible　vermin　that　gave　us　no　rest。　My　men　were
all　occupied　in　building　the　station；　therefore　it　was　impossible　for　me
to　take　a　flying　column　and　give　the　Baris　a　severe　lesson；　but　I　made
up　my　mind　that　when　the　work　should　be　finished；　I　would　take　the　fight
out　of　them　most　thoroughly。　They　now　considered　us　fair　game；　that　they
might　insult　as　they　thought　proper；　and　I　heard　from　our　two　faithful
allies；　Sherroom　and　Morgian；　that　they　imagined　we　should　become　afraid
of　them；　and　then　return　to　Khartoum。

They　teased　us　at　night　like　rats；　but　they　lost　many　men。　I　rather
admired　them　for　their　persistence；　as　the　scouts　must　have　been
adventurous　fellows。　Whenever　these　people　were　taken　prisoners；　they
confessed　that　they　were　the　spies　of　the　main　body　that　was　concealed
at　some　distance　in　the　rear。　The　favourite　method　of　a　Bari　attack　is
during　the　night；　when　the　darkness　reduces　the　danger　of　fire…arms。　On
such　occasions　they　generally　halt　either　in　forest　or　high　grass；
according　to　circumstances；　about　half　a　mile　from　the　camp　they　propose
to　attack。　Scouts　are　sent　forward　to　ascertain　the　position　and
vigilance　of　sentries　before　the　advance　of　the　main　body。　The　scouts；
being　quite　naked；　crawl　upon　their　hands　and　knees　until　the　darkness
permits　them　to　approach　within　a　few　yards　of　the　sentries。　They　then
lie　flat　upon　their　bellies　unobserved　until　they　can　retreat　to　the
expectant　body　in　their　rear。

The　attacking　force　now　advances　in　perfect　silence；　and　approaching
upon　hands　and　knees　in　the　same　manner　as　the　scouts；　they　suddenly
spring　upon　the　sentries；　and　with　wild　yells　make　a　general　rush　upon
the　camp。　This　sudden　attack　would　be　extremely　dangerous　unless
provided　against；　and　in　this　manner　large　parties　of　the　slave…hunters
have　been　completely　destroyed。

Our　passive　resistance　to　the　numerous　native　attempts　at　surprise　had
been　misconstrued　by　the　Baris　into　timidity。　The　news　had　spread
throughout　the　country　that　we　should　not　venture　far　inland：　thus　a
grand　alliance　had　been　made　among　the　tribes。　The　Baris　desired　to　make
friends　with　their　powerful　enemy；　the　Loquia：　they　accordingly　invited
this　tribe　to　form　an　alliance　and　to　join　in　a　combined　attack　upon
Gondokoro；　by　which　means　they　hoped　to　overpower　and　destroy　our　force；
and　to　become　possessed　of　many　thousand　cattle　which　were　now　at
head…quarters。

The　Loquia　consented；　thus　we　were　exposed　to　a　grand　coalition。　In　the
mean　time　Abou　Saood　and　his　people；　in　their　camp　on　the　west　side　of
the　river；　continued　to　be　most　friendly　with　the　enemies　of　the
government；　and　supplied　the　Belinian　natives　with　ammunition。

At　1。30。　a。m。；　on　July　21；　I　was　awakened　by　the　sound　of　firing　at
head…quarters。

I　was　dressed　and　armed　in　a　few　minutes。　The　bugle　sounded　the　alarm；
and　〃The　Forty〃　fell　into　position。

I　heard　the　bugles　at　head…quarters；　together　with　a　confused　din　of
native　drums；　horns；　and　yells。　The　first　shots　had　appeared　to　proceed
from　the　sentries；　but　these　were　shortly　succeeded　by　heavy　file…firing
from　the　whole　force　at　the　camp。　An　attack　had　evidently　been　made；　and
a　regular　fight　was　going　on：　it　was　therefore　to　be　expected　that　my
small　force　would　soon　have　to　act　on　the　defensive。　Spare　ammunition
was　quickly　in　readiness；　and　we　were　well　prepared。

In　the　mean　time；　a　general　action　was　growing　hotter　every　moment；　the
yells　of　the　natives　and　the　din　of　their　horns　became　louder。　I　was
momentarily　expecting　to　hear　the　sound　of　cannon；　and　I　was　speculating
upon　the　effect　that　the　fire　of　ten　guns　loaded　with　case　shot　would
have　among　such　a　crowd　of　enemies；　but　to　my　astonishment　not　a　gun　was
fired。　Simply　the　roll　of　musketry　continued。

In　about　half　an　hour　the　native　yells　grew　fainter；　the　noise　of　their
horns　and　drums　was　reduced；　and　the　heavy　firing　dwindled　to　dropping
shots。　I　heard　the　bugles　sound　〃cease　firing。〃　I　then　heard　〃the
advance。〃　Again　firing　commenced；　this　time　in　volleys；　then　I　heard
once　more　〃cease　firing；〃　and　then　〃the　retreat：〃　the　attack　was
repulsed。

I　could　not　understand　why　my　little　station　had　not　been　attacked；　but
I　subsequently　heard　that　the　natives　were　more　afraid　of　the　〃Forty
Thieves〃　than　of　the　entire　force。　Added　to　this　was　the　powerful　reason
that　I　had　only　a　few　cows　for　milk；　while　the　attraction　of　many
thousand　head　of　cattle　induced　an　attack　on　the　camp　at　Gondokoro。

On　the　following　morning　before　sunrise　I　rode　up　to　camp　to　hear　the
news。　It　appeared　that　the　natives　had　actually　surprised　the　sentries。
We　had　lost　a　corporal；　killed；　and　a　lieutenant　and　one　soldier　were
wounded　by　arrows。

The　Baris　and　the　Loquia　had　attacked　in　large　force　with　the　intention
of　burning　the　station；　as　many　were　provided　with　flaming　firebrands；
with　which　they　had　advanced　bravely　to　the　edge　of　the　thorn　fence。　Had
the　station　not　been　protected　by　this　defence　it　is　probable　that　the
enemy　might　have　succeeded　in　firing　the　houses。

As　usual；　the　troops　had　fired　badly。　Such　a　fusilade　as　I　had　heard
should　have　covered　the　plain　with　dead。　The　officers　and　men　declared
that　great　numbers　of　the　enemy　were　killed；　but　their　comrades　had
carried　off　the　bodies。　This　was　true　to　a　certain　extent；　as　I　saw
blood　in　many　directions；　and　we　found　one　Loquia　lying　dead　with　two
bullet　wounds；　through　the　head　and　thigh。

There　can　be　no　doubt　that　the　camp　was　surprised　through　the　neglect　of
the　patrol　and　the　sleepiness　of　sentries；　and　it　was　only　saved　by　the
thorn　fence　and　the　fire　of　so　large　a　force　as　1；100　men。　The　colonel
in　command　of　the　troops；　Raouf　Bey；　could　give　no　satisfactory
explanation　for　the　silence　of　the　artillery；　but　he　subsequently　told
me　they　HAD　FORGOTTEN　ITS　EXISTENCE　in　the　excitement　of　the　moment。
Another　officer　told　me　they　had　brought　up　one　gun；　but　could　not　find
the　key　of　the　ammunition。　I　remembered　what　David　said　in　his　haste；
and　I　came　to　the　conclusion　that　they　had　been　disgracefully　surprised。

I　determined　to　lose　no　time　in　protecting　the　station　by　a　ditch　and
earthwork；　so　that　I　could　leave　a　garrison　without　risk；　and　I　would
then　attack　the　country　in　every　direction。

The　iron　magazines　were　completed；　and　all　goods　and　supplies　were
stored。　The　camp　was　so　far　finished　that　the　men　were　housed。　I
therefore　drew　a　plan　for　the　fort；　which　I　intrusted　to　the　care　of　Mr。
Higginbotham；　the　chief　engineer；　for　execution。　I　gave　orders　that　all
hands；　including　the　sailors；　should　immediately　be　employed　to　dig　the
fosse。　The　expedition　was　well　supplied　with　tools；　and　the　work　was
commenced　with　vigour；　as　the　officers　and　men　did　not　object　to　have　a
deep　ditch　between　them　and　the　enemy。

I　also　planned　a　triangular　fort　as　a　protection　to　my　small　herd　of
about　a　hundred　milch　cows　at　my　own　station。　The　〃Forty　Thieves〃　did
not　require　a　fort；　but　the　cattle　might　be　carried　off　by　a　sudden　rush
that　would　induce　a　stampede　unless　they　were　well　secured。

〃The　Forty〃　set　to　work；　assisted　daily　by　thirty　men　from
head…quarters；　and　we　soon　had　a　strong　fort；　with　ditch　and　rampart；
that　defied　attack。

A　short　time　after　the　grand　surprise　of　the　camp　at　head…quarters；　the
last　attempt　was　made　upon　my　little　station；　which　ended　as　usual　in　my
men　being　well　on　the　alert；　and　in　the　death　of　one　of　the　scouts；　shot
by　the　outlying　guard　through　the　thigh。　Before　he　died；　he　confessed
that　the　Belinian　and　the　Loquia；　together　with　the　Baris　of　Gondokoro；
had　united　in　the　general　attack　on　the　camp　on　the　21st；　but　that　they
had　lost　many　men；　who；　being　badly　wounded；　had　died　on　the　road　during
the　retreat。

My　little　station　from　this　date　went　out　of　fashion；　and　the　Baris
declined　to　attack；　as　they　subsequently　declared　that　my　sentries　were
never　asleep　like　those　at　head…quarters。

〃The　Forty〃　had　earned　a　reputation　that　increased　their　self…respect。
Not　only　were　they　nearly　sure　to　kill　the　wily　scouts；　but　patrols　at
night　searched　out　the　natives；　and　generally　came　upon　them　with　fatal
effect。


CHAPTER　X

DESTRUCTION　OF　THE　SHIR　DETACHMENT。

On　July　30；　1871；　I　was　astonished　by　the　arrival　of　the　tall　sheik；
Niambore；　with　whom　I　had　left　an　officer　and　six　men　in　the　Shir　tribe；
to　superintend　the　cultivation　of　corn。　This　fine…looking　fellow　was
introduced；　accompanied　by　five　of　his　principal　advisers。　He　shortly
told　me　his　story。　He　had　been　four　nights　on　the　road；　as　he　had　not
dared　to　travel　by　day；　fearing　the　Baris：　thus；　in　the　dark；　he　had
frequently　wandered　from　the　track。　In　the　daytime　he　had　slept　in　the
concealment　of　forests。

He　had　run　this　risk　in　order　to　be　the　first　to　give　me　the　bad　news；
lest　I　should　suspect　him　of　foul　play。　All　my　soldiers　were　killed；
except　the　major；　Achmet　Rafik；　and　a　corporal！

When　Abou　Saood　had　passed　his　country　some　weeks　since；　his　people　had
attacked　a　neighbouring　sheik；　and　had　carried　off　a　large　number　of
cattle；　although　he　was　aware　of　the　presence　of　a　government　officer
with　a　very　small　detachment。　Abo