ismailia-第49部分

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twenty　men　covered　a　line　of　about　seventy…six　paces。　This　front；　with
the　men　in　scarlet　uniform；　made　a　tolerable　show。　I　rode　at　the　lead　on
a　very　beautiful　Arab；　〃Greedy　Grey；〃　which　was　the　most　perfect　of　all
the　horses　I　had　brought　from　Egypt：　excelling　in　breed；　speed；　beauty；
and　temper。

My　little　company　marched　forward　in　quick　time。　This　was　a　signal　for　a
chorus　of　yells　upon　all　sides；　the　big　drums　sounded　louder　than
before；　and　the　horns　of　the　Baris　bellowed　in　every　direction。

Great　numbers　of　natives　now　advanced　with　their　bows　and　arrows；
gesticulating　and　leaping　from　side　to　side　in　their　usual　manner；　so　as
to　prevent　the　possibility　of　a　steady　aim。

As　yet；　they　were　about　600　yards　distant；　and　I　continued　the　march
forward　as　though　no　enemy　were　present。　As　we　descended　a　ravine　and
marched　up　the　opposite　incline；　I　found　that　the　natives　retired　over
the　next　undulation。　Their　line　of　front　extended　about　a　mile　and　a
quarter；　while　we　occupied　at　the　most　eighty　paces。

Having　marched　about　a　mile　without　firing　a　shot；　and　finding　that　the
natives　invariably　fell　back　as　we　advanced；　at　the　same　time　that　they
kept　the　same　interval　between　us；　I　at　once　understood　their　tactics。
It　was　now　five　o'clock；　the　sun　would　set　within　an　hour；　and　their
intention　was　to　draw　us　forward　until　darkness　would　reduce　the　power
of　the　rifles。　They　would　then　be　able　to　surround　us；　and　very　possibly
over　power　our　little　force　during　our　retreat　to　the　vessels　in　the
dark。

I　halted　my　men；　and　explained　to　them　the　Baris'　dodge。　I　now　ordered
the　retreat　after　this　manner：　we　should　hurry　down…hill　and　march
quickly　up　the　next　undulation；　so　as　to　deceive　the　enemy　with　the　idea
of　a　precipitate　retreat。　This　would　induce　an　advance　on　their　side。
The　Baris　would　be　certain　to　follow　us　at　full　speed　if　they　supposed
we　were　afraid　of　them。

It　was　my　intention　to　cross　rapidly　the　first　undulation　where　my　men
would　for　a　few　minutes　be　out　of　view　of　the　enemy；　and　there　to
conceal　them　in　a　deserted　village　which　I　had　noticed　during　our
advance。　This　would　be　an　ambush　that　would　take　the　Baris　by　surprise；
as　they　would　imagine　that　we　had　passed　ahead：　they　would　therefore
come　near　the　village。

The　order　to　the　〃right　about〃　was　given；　and　my　men；　who　took　a　keen
interest　in　the　plan；　commenced　so　precipitate　a　march　down　the　hill
that　my　horse　was　forced　into　a　jog…trot。　I　heard　the　savage　yells　of
the　enemy；　who；　as　I　had　expected；　now　followed　us　with　the　hope　of
cutting　off　our　retreat　to　the　vessels。

We　crossed　the　dry　rocky　bed　of　the　torrent　in　the　bottom；　and　ascended
the　hill…face　rapidly。　Looking　back；　I　saw　the　natives　running　at　full
speed　in　pursuit。　They　began　to　descend　the　hill　just　as　we　had　crossed
the　summit　of　the　high　ground；　thus　they　lost　sight　of　us；　as　we　quickly
concealed　ourselves　behind　the　huts　and　granaries　of　a　deserted　village。
I　hid　my　horse　behind　a　hut；　and　the　men；　having　surrounded　the
position；　crouched　low　on　the　ground　behind　the　most　convenient　cover。

Unfortunately；　the　natives；　who　were　on　the　high　ground　on　our　right
flank　as　we　faced　about；　perceived　the　snare；　and　endeavoured　to　give
the　alarm　by　blowing　upon　their　whistles　of　antelope's　horn。

This　was　either　misunderstood；　or　unheeded　by　the　enemy　in　our　rear；　who
quickly　made　their　appearance。

I　had　ordered　my　men　to　reserve　their　fire；　and　not　to　expend　any
ammunition　until　the　command　should　be　given。　The　natives　on　our　right
flank　now　passed　forward；　which　would　bring　them　in　our　rear。　At　the
same　time；　those　in　our　front　appeared　in　very　loose　and　open　order；
evidently　looking　for　us　in　all　directions。

I　observed　a　man　painted　red；　like　a　stick　of　sealing…wax；　with　large
ivory　bracelets　upon　his　arms。　This　fellow　was　in　advance；　and　he
ascended　a　small　ant…hill　to　obtain　a　better　view。

A　puff　of　smoke　and　the　sharp　crack　of　a　rifle　startled　the　enemy；　as
the　red　sheik　rolled　over。　The　yells　increased　on　all　sides；　the
whistles　of　the　antelopes'　horns　now　sounded　a　shrill　alarm；　during
which　the　leading　Baris　shot　off　their　arrows；　but　they　fell　short。

Another　quick　shot　cracked　upon　the　body　of　a　native；　who　was　caught　in
the　arms　of　his　comrades　and　dragged　away　as　they　precipitately
retreated　in　all　directions　from　the　dangerous　locality。

My　men　now　begged　me　to　allow　them　to　charge　and　to　capture　the　man；　who
was　endeavouring　to　escape。　I　gave　them　leave；　and　a　body　of　fifteen
dashed　out　in　pursuit；　with　loud　yells；　after　the　retreating　natives。
For　about　a　minute　the　natives　faced　them　and　shot　their　arrows；　but　the
gallant　fifteen　coolly　knelt　upon　the　clear　ground；　and　taking　steady
rests　upon　their　knees；　opened　a　fire　that　drove　the　enemy　before　them。
The　fifteen　immediately　charged　forward　and　bayoneted　a　fugitive；　and
returned　with　his　bow　and　arrows　in　triumph。

The　enemy　had　quickly　the　worst　of　it。　They　were　now　standing　in　all
directions　at　distances　varying　from　400　to　1；000　paces。　Many　of　them
were　actually　in　our　rear；　but　I　noticed　that　these　fellows　were　already
opening　to　the　right　and　left；　as　though　they　faltered　in　their
determination　to　resist　our　retreat　to　the　vessels。

The　Baris　would　not　stand　in　the　open　ground　before　the　sniders。

The　ground　was　dry　and　dusty；　thus　each　bullet　marked　its　bit　as　the
puff　of　dust　rose　from　the　earth；　like　a　jet　of　smoke。

Some　of　the　enemy　were　knocked　over　at　very　long　ranges；　others　were　so
scared　by　the　close　practice；　as　the　bullets　either　struck　the　ground　at
their　feet；　or　pinged　close　to　their　ears；　that　they　cleared　off　as
quickly　as　possible。　Their　noisy　drums　had　ceased；　and　suddenly　I
perceived　a　general　skedaddle；　as　those　upon　our　right　flank　started　off
in　full　speed；　shouting　and　yelling　to　alarm　the　rest。　I　now
distinguished　a　body　of　troops　hurrying　at　the　double　down　the　hill…side
in　the　distance。　These　were　commanded　by　an　active　Soudani　officer
（lieutenant）　who　had　been　in　Mexico　under　Marshal　Bazaine。　He　had　heard
the　firing　as　he　was　returning　with　his　day's　collection　of　corn　to　the
vessels；　he　had　therefore　dropped　the　corn；　and　hurried　on　with　his
party　to　our　support。

I　ordered　the　bugler　to　sound　the　retreat：　and　having　joined　forces；　we
marched　without　further　opposition。

We　reached　the　diahbeeah　and　my　little　camp　about　half　an　hour　after
dark。



CHAPTER　XII。

VESSELS　RETURN　TO　KHARTOUM。

ON　6th　November；　1871；　Lieutenant　Baker　returned　from　Gondokoro　with
four　noggurs；　and　the　entire　detachment　of　Lieutenant…Colonel　Achmet。
The　news　was　as　follows：…

After　the　departure　of　Major　Abdullah；　the　natives　had　attacked　the　camp
of　Colonel　Achmet；　and　had　wounded　him　in　the　back　with　a　barbed　arrow；
which　had　to　be　cut　out。　Another　arrow　had　passed　through　the　heart　of
his　servant；　killing　him　on　the　spot。　Several　soldiers　had　been　wounded；
but　not　seriously。　The　corn　had　been　delivered　from　his　station　to　the
magazines　at　Gondokoro。

On　3rd　November；　thirty　vessels　had　left　Gondokoro　for　Khartoum；　taking
about　1；100　people；　including　children；　women；　sailors；　soldiers；　and
invalids。

In　spite　of　my　positive　orders；　that　none　but　the　really　sick　should　be
sent　to　Khartoum；　Raouf　Bey　had　in　my　absence　sent　away　great　numbers　of
troops　who　were　in　sound　health；　thus　reducing　the　entire　force　of　the
expedition　to　502　officers　and　men；　including　buglers；　drummers；　clerks；
&c。；　exclusive　of　fifty…two　sailors。

Thus　an　expedition　that　should　have　comprised　1；645　men　was　reduced　to
so　insignificant　a　force；　that　it　appeared　impossible　to　proceed　into
the　interior。　The　Baris　were　at　war　with　us；　the　slave…hunters'
companies　were　treacherous；　and　yet　I　was　to　suppress　the　slave　trade；
and　annex　the　equatorial　districts　with　less　than　one…third　of　the　force
required。

Abou　Saood　had　apparently　gained　his　point；　and　the　expedition　was
paralyzed。　It　was　considered　that　with　so　small　a　force　I　could　not
travel　far　from　headquarters：　thus　as　my　term　of　service　would　expire　on
1st　April　1873；　I　had　only　one　year　and　four　months　remaining；　and　in
this　short　time　it　would　be　impossible　to　accomplish　my　object。

In　the　dreadful　state　of　the　river　we　could　not　speculate　upon　the
arrival　of　reinforcements　from　Khartoum。　Our　cuttings　and　canals　in　the
Dalir　Giraffe　might　have　closed　up；　or　they　might　have　improved：　of　this
we　were　ignorant。

I　had　sent　off　my　letters　to　England；　also　those　to　the　Khedive；
complaining　of　the　conspiracy　of　the　officers；　and　inclosing　the
documents。　At　the　same　time　I　had　impressed　upon　his　Highness　the
imperative　necessity　of　opening　the　channel　of　the　great　White　Nile
without　delay。＇*＇

＇*Footnote：　His　Highness　lost　no　time　in　sending　the　necessary　orders
for　the　clearing　of　the　main　channel　of　the　White　Nile　to　the　governor
of　the　Soudan。　This　energetic　officer；　Ismail　Ayoob　Pacha；　worked　with　a
large　force　during　two　consecutive　years　and　restored　the　river　to　its
original　charactercompleting　the　work　after　I　had　returned　to　England；
but　before　the　arrival　of　my　successor。　Colonel　Gordon　was　thus　enabled
to　make　use　of　the　six　powerful　steamers　which　I　had　sent　up　from　Cairo
to　Khartoum；　and　the　expedition　continued　without　hindrance。＇

I　had　written　to　Djiaffer　Pacha　for　reinforcements　＇*＇　to　be　sent　
from　Khartoum　immediately；　together　with　a　large　supply　of　dhurra。

＇*Footnote：　These　reinforcements　were　thirteen　months　actually　on　the　
river　from　Khartoum　to　Gondokoro；　and　they　only　arrived　at　the　close　
of　the　expedition。）

I　had　very　little　hope　of　receiving　anything　from　the　Soudan。　It　was
therefore　necessary　to　make　my　arrangements　for　the　future；
independently　of　all　extraneous　assistance。　With　502　officers　and　men；
and　fifty…two　armed　sailors；　I　had　to　accomplish　the　work。

The　force　at　present　with　me　consisted　of　251　officers　and　men；　thus　I
had　exactly　half　of　the　troops。　Gondokoro　was　well　fortified；　and　the
Belinian　had　been　thoroughly　cowed；　therefore　I　had　nothing　to　fear　in
that　quarter。

I　had　more　than　filled　one　of　the　great　magazines　with　corn：　therefore；
including　the　dhurra　now　o