ismailia-第59部分

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the　steamer　to　Ismailia　（Gondokoro）。　It　is　heartbreaking　work　after　all
my　trouble　in　having　brought　her　to　this　distant　point。

〃Nothing　can　be　done　without　camels；　and　these　animals　cannot　be
brought　from　Khartoum　in　the　closed　state　of　the　river。

〃My　original　plan　included　200　camels；　200　cavalry；　and　fifteen　large
decked　sloops。　None　of　these　necessary　items　have　been　sent　from
Khartoum；　thus　I　am　paralyzed。〃

CHAPTER　XV。

THE　ADVANCE　TO　LOBORE。

I　determined　upon　a　new　plan。　I　knew　the　direction　of　Lobore；　as　I　had
been　there　during　my　former　expedition；　the　distance　could　not　exceed
sixty　miles。

If　the　soldiers　could　draw　the　carts；　I　might　yet　manage　to　advance；　as
I　should　be　able　to　procure　carriers　on　arrival　at　Lobore；　provided
always　that　the　natives　were　as　friendly　as　when　I　left　them　some　years
ago。

It　would　be　impossible　to　convey　the　steamer；　as　I　could　not　expect　to
provide　2；000　carriers；　but　I　might　be　able　to　penetrate　south；　suppress
the　slave…hunters；　establish　the　government；　and　open　up　a　legitimate
trade。

The　first　step　necessary　was　to　convey　the　large　herd　of　cattle　across
the　river；　which　was　about　400　yards　in　width；　with　a　very　rapid　stream。
I　fully　expected　that　we　should　be　attacked　by　the　natives　in　great
force　during　this　operation；　which　necessitated　a　division　of　my　force
upon　both　banks　of　the　Nile。

The　sheep　were　taken　across　in　vessels；　but　the　cows　were　obliged　to
swim。　This　passage　was　very　tedious；　as　the　animals　were　necessarily
taken　in　small　batches；　guided　by　men　who　swam　by　their　side　in　the
manner　already　described　at　Gondokoro。

Although　the　natives　were　avowedly　hostile；　they　dared　not　face　us　in
the　open。　They　made　another　attempt　by　night　to　surprise　the　cattle
kraal；　but　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader　immediately　set　fire　to　a　few　villages
as　a　response　and　warning。

We　were　occupied　four　days　in　passing　the　cattle　across　the　river。
During　the　passage；　we　lost　one　taken　by　a　crocodile；　and　three　cows
were　wantonly　seized　and　drowned　by　hippopotami。　A　herd　of　these
creatures　happened　to　be　in　the　way　as　the　cows　were　floating　in　large
numbers　down　the　stream；　and　several　were　seen　to　attack　the　cattle　and
seize　them　in　their　jaws。　As　the　hippopotamus　is　not　carnivorous；　this
was　an　unexpected　attack。

My　Englishmen　had　been　busily　engaged　in　erecting　the　carts；　greasing
the　wheels；　and　attaching　the　ropes　necessary　for　hauling。　They　were　all
loaded；　and　were　arranged　to　be　drawn　by　fifteen　men　each。

On　the　evening　of　the　5th　February；　while　we　were　at　dinner；　I　was
astonished　by　the　unexpected　mustering　of　my　whole　force；　excepting　the
〃Forty　Thieves。〃　The　men　were　without　arms　or　officers；　but　they　marched
to　the　margin　of　the　river　and　formed　a　line　two　deep　alongside　the
diahbeeah；　which　lay　close　against　the　bank。

I　knew　at　once　what　all　this　meant；　but　I　pretended　to　take　no　notice；
and　I　continued　eating　my　dinner。

I　was　quickly　interrupted　by　loud　cries　from　the　men。　〃We　can't　draw　the
carts！　that's　not　the　work　for　soldiers；　we'll　fight；　or　do　anything
else　you　may　desire；　but　we　are　not　camels　to　drag　the　waggons。〃

The　〃Forty　Thieves〃　immediately　seized　their　arms；　and　marching　quickly
to　the　spot；　they　formed　in　line　upon　the　bank；　between　the　diahbeeah
and　the　men　who　thus　mutinously　had　appeared　without　their　officers。

I　at　once　ordered　the　bugle　call　for　all　officers；　and　at　the　same　time
I　sent　for　the　Englishmen　to　come　to　the　diahbeeah。

When　all　had　arrived；　and　the　shouts　still　continued；　I　rose　from　the
table　and　addressed　the　troops　in　Arabic；　from　the　poop…deck　of　the
diahbeeah。

I　recalled　to　their　recollection　how　I　had　always　led　them　successfully
through　every　difficulty；　and　I　assured　them　that　the　distance　to　Lobore
was　trifling；　and　that　we　should　find　good　and　willing　natives　to　convey
the　baggage；　if　we　could　only　once　reach　the　desired　tribe。

Cries　of　〃there　are　no　good　negroes…they　are　all　bad；〃　interrupted　my
discourse。　I　nevertheless　continued；　but　having　a　thorough　knowledge　of
the　African　character；　and　knowing　that　if　a　negro　gets　an　idea　into　his
head；　that　idea　can　only　be　eradicated　by　cutting　the　head　off；　I　was
not　fool　enough　to　persist　in　swimming　against　a　torrent。　The　〃Forty
Thieves〃　now　joined　the　tumult　by　declaring　that　〃THEY　would　draw　the
carts；　or　do　anything　that　I　should　command。〃

I　took　immediate　advantage　of　the　occasion；　and　exclaimed；　〃You　SHALL　do
all　that　I　command。　I　have　changed　my　plans；　and　I　order　you　to　take　the
carts　to　pieces　at　sunrise　to…morrow　morning。　All　those　who　are　afraid
to　follow　me　shall　return　with　the　vessels　and　carts　to　Gondokoro。　I
never　turn　back；　and　my　lady　and　I　will　go　on　alone　with　Mr。　Baker。　I
only　require　orderly　soldiers；　who　know　their　duty；　if　you　have
forgotten　your　duty；　you　shall　return　at　once　to　Gondokoro。〃

This　declaration　was　followed　by　loud　shouts〃We　won't　let　you　go
alone；　the　natives　are　treacherous；　we　will　follow　wherever　you　lead。
Are　we　not　soldiers　of　the　Sultan？　are　you　not　the　Sultan's　Pacha？〃

I　had　them　in　hand；　therefore　I　at　once　terminated　the　scene　by
commanding　silence。　I　then　gave　an　order　aloud　to　the　officers：　〃Return
carts　and　all　baggage　on　board　vessels　at　sunrise　to…morrow。　All　troops
to　be　ready　for　the　advance。〃

〃Bugler！　sound　the　retreat。〃

That　peculiar　habit　of　discipline　yielded　instinctively　to　the　sound　of
the　bugle。　The　officer　gave　the　order；　〃Right；　turn；〃　and　the　late
tumultuous　crowd　marched　quietly　to　their　quarters。　This　was　ended；　at
the　same　time　it　was　not　cheering。

My　Englishmen；　who　had　been　witnesses　of　this　scene；　were　filled　with
indignation。　They　were　men　who　thoroughly　represented　English
determination；　and　they　at　once　volunteered　to　carry　their　own　baggage
if　I　would　only　permit　them　to　accompany　me。

How　often　my　heart　has　beaten　with　pride　when　I　have　seen　the
unconquerable　spirit　of　the　country　burst　forth　like　an　unextinguishable
flame　in　any　great　emergency！

I　now　had　to　quell　the　eagerness　of　my　own　good　fellows；　as　I　knew　that
if　〃the　spirit　was　willing；　the　flesh　was　weak；〃　and　it　would　be
impossible　for　Englishmen　to　carry　loads　through　a　journey　in　a　tropical
country。

I　saw　the　necessity　of　the　occasion　at　a　glance；　and　I　gave　the
necessary　orders。

The　Englishmen；　together　with　the　steamer　sections；　machinery；　&c。；　must
return　to　Gondokoro。　They　must　immediately　commence　the　construction　of
the　No。　2　steamer　of　108　tons　and　20…horse　power；　as　this　vessel；　being
provided　with　twin　screws　instead　of　paddles；　would　be　able　to　pass
through　the　narrow　channels　of　the　Bahr　Giraffe；　and　communicate　with
Khartoum。

I　gave　the　order　to　prepare　to…morrow　for　a　return　to　Gondokoro。

On　6th　February；　at　sunrise；　all　hands　were　at　work　dismounting　the
carts；　and　returning　on　board　the　vessels　all　material　connected　with
the　steamer；　&c。　I　altered　the　loads；　and　made　arrangements　for　a　new
plan　of　action。

I　had　determined　to　push　on　to　Lobore　with　one　hundred　men；　in　heavy
marching　order；　if　I　could　only　engage　a　few　natives　to　carry　the
necessaries　for　the　road。　At　Lobore　I　might　be　able　to　engage　a　few
hundred　porters　that　I　should　send　back　to　the　vessels　with　an　escort　of
fifty　soldiers；　to　bring　up　sufficient　ammunition　and　material　for　an
advance　south。　I　knew　the　route。

It　was　therefore　necessary　to　assort　the　baggage：　much　had　to　be
returned　to　Gondokoro　with　the　Englishmen。

I　had　a　small　invoice…book　that　had　been　carefully　prepared　by　Mr。
Marcopolo；　which　gave　the　numbers　and　contents　of　every　box；　therefore
the　difficulty　of　assortment　was　not　great。

All　the　boxes　were　of　block　tin；　painted；　thus　they　could　be　piled　like
bricks　one　upon　the　other　to　form　a　wall。　I　arranged　about　400　loads
which　were　set　apart　for　the　carriers；　should　I　be　fortunate　in
procuring　that　number　from　Lobore。

On　7th　February　the　carts　were　shipped。　All　the　loads　were　perfected　and
ready　for　a　start　on　the　following　day。　Some　of　my　men　were　endeavouring
to　train　a　few　oxen　to　carry　their　baggage。

On　8th　February　the　Englishmen；　in　very　low　spirits；　started　for
Ismailia　（Gondokoro）　in　two　vessels；　with　ninety　urdeps　of　dhurra
consigned　to　Mr。　Marcopolo。

I　had　arranged　that　twenty…two　boatmen　should　accompany　me　to　Lobore；
carrying　such　loads　as　were　absolutely　necessary　for　our　party。　They
would　then　return　together　with　the　fifty　soldiers　who　would　escort　the
native　carriers　to　the　vessels。

I　had　given　the　Englishmen　instructions　to　commence　the　building　of　the
steamer　immediately；　and　to　confine　their　work　to　this　vessel　until　she
should　be　completed。

Having　counted　all　the　loads　that　were　left　in　charge　of　Major　Abdullah；
I　took　a　receipt　for　them；　and　gave　that　officer　both　clear　and　positive
orders　for　his　conduct。

I　left　with　him　120　men；　together　with　the　field…piece　and　eight
artillerymen。　In　addition　to　these　men　was　the　crew　of　the　No。　10
steamer；　all　of　whom　were　trained　as　soldiers。　Thus　with　the　armed　crews
of　the　different　vessels　he　would　have　a　force　of　about　145　muskets。　It
was　highly　probable　that　the　natives　would　attack　the　vessels　and　the
cattle　in　my　absence；　as　they　would　have　remarked　the　great　reduction　of
force。　Although　the　country　was　perfectly　open；　the　ground　was　high　and
rocky；　and　rapidly　rose　to　about　200　feet　above　the　level　of　the　river
within　a　distance　of　a　mile；　thus　the　natives　scattered　about　the
heights　could　always　observe　our　proceedings。

Before　I　quitted　the　vessels；　I　made　every　preparation　for　their
security。　All　the　metal　boxes　were　built　into　a　quadrangular　breastwork；
that　would　form　a　little　fort　for　a　dozen　people。

I　moored　the　vessels　in　line　close　to　the　mouth　of　a　deep　flat…bottomed
ravine；　which；　although　now　dry　and　about　thirty　paces　wide；　had　formed
the　bed　of　a　river　during　the　wet　season。　The　perpendicular　banks　of
this　fosse　would　make　a　grand　protection　for　the　cattle；　I　therefore
ordered　a　fence　of　thorns　to　be　constructed　across　the　ravine　about　a
hundred　yards　from　the　river；　so　as　to　form　a　kraal；　in　which　the　cows
would　be　confined　below　the　level　of　the　country。

S