ismailia-第95部分

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upon　by　a　sudden　rush　of　the　enemy；　and　the　whole　line　commenced
file…firing　into　the　thick　covert。

I　ordered　the　bugler　to　sound　〃forward；〃　and　〃cease　firing；〃　as　the　men
were　getting　a　little　wild。

One　of　〃The　Forty〃；　Ali　Goboor；　had　been　wounded　by　a　lance　through　the
leg；　but　he　managed　to　limp　along。

We　now　began　to　understand　the　places　at　which　we　were　sure　to　meet　an
ambuscade。　Whenever　we　descended　a　slope　towards　a　marshy　bottom；　there
was　certain　to　be　a　large　force　concealed　behind　the　lofty　reeds　that
grew　in　the　swamp。　I　ordered　the　advance…guard　to　fire　a　few　shots　low
down　in　the　reels　whenever　they　should　approach　these　places。　By　this
plan　we　generally　induced　the　enemy　to　throw　their　spears　before　we　were
in　the　midst；　in　which　case　we　opened　a　heavy　fire　into　the　grass；　and
marched　straight　forward。

The　ambuscades　had　been　carefully　planned。　　A　row　of　grass　of　perhaps
two　or　three　yards　in　thickness　was　left　standing　in　its　natural
position　along　the　path；　behind　this　vegetable　wall；　the　grass　had　been
either　cut　down　or　torn　up；　so　as　to　afford　a　clear　space　for　the
natives　to　take　a　good　run　when　throwing　their　lances。　They　accordingly
waited　until　we　should　enter　the　snare；　and　they　calculated　their
opportunity　for　making　a　combined　attack　when　they　considered　that　our
line　of　march　was　exactly　opposite。　Of　course　they　could　not　see　us
through　the　thick　screen　of　brass　any　more　than　we　could　distinguish
them。

We　were　at　an　additional　disadvantage；　as　we　were　always　exposed　to
attacks　from　fresh　enemies；　the　route　was　occupied　throughout；　thus　they
were　not　cowed　by　the　defeats　of　every　ambuscade　in　the　rear。

Considering　the　great　numbers　of　spears　that　had　flown　like　flashes　of
light　through　the　line；　it　was　astonishing　that　we　had　not　had　more
numerous　casualties。　Several　men　had　been　struck　on　their　knapsacks；
which　had　served　as　shields。

We　at　length　came　to　an　exceedingly　awkward　place；　that　I　felt　sure
would　be　well　occupied。　Upon　our　right　lay　a　row　of　rocky　hills；　to
which　we　were　marching　parallel。　We　had　to　descend　through　forest　to　low
ground。　To　reach　this　it　was　necessary　to　pass　between　numerous　blocks
of　granite　that　completely　commanded　the　path。　Each　block　was　about
twenty　or　twenty…five　feet　high；　and　several　much　exceeded　this　height。
The　base　was　the　usual　high　grass　and　forest。

I　ordered　the　men　not　to　fire　unless　they　should　see　the　enemy；　and　to
take　a　good　aim。

Presently；　as　we　descended　through　the　pass；　the　attack　commenced。　Two
spears　struck　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　one　in　the　fore…arm；　the　second
ripped　his　tough　leather　gaiter；　and　glanced　off。

The　sniders　were　ready；　as　the　enemy　were　obliged　to　show　their　heads
above　the　rocks；　and　one　fellow；　who　was　exactly　above　us；　either　lost
his　nerve；　or　received　a　bullet；　which　allowed　his　lance　to　come
rattling　down　the　rocks　as　a　complete　failure。　I　ordered　the　bugler　to
continue　to　sound　〃forward〃　（Illah　Reh）；　as　it　was　advisable　to　push
through　this　awkward　place　as　quickly　as　possible。

Directly　that　we　were　out　of　the　pass；　I　tied　up　Abd…el…Kader's　arm；　and
we　continued　the　march　until　we　halted　at　2。5　P。M。；　in　a　piece　of　open
cultivated　ground；　where　I　determined　to　bivouac　for　the　night。

I　had　resolved　always　to　finish　the　day's　journey　by　one　march；　as　it
would　afford　time　for　erecting　a　protection　of　thorns　and　branches　of
trees　to　prevent　a　sudden　night　attack。

Fortunately　the　weather　was　fine。　　Abd…el…Kader　was　now　faint　and　weak
from　loss　of　blood。　I　attended　to　his　wound；　which　was　an　ugly　gash；　and
gave　him　a　good　dose　of　brandy；　and　advised　him　to　go　to　sleep。

Lieutenant　Baker　and　the　other　officers　assisted　in　erecting　the　defence
of　thorns。　All　the　wet　clothes　were　spread　out　to　dry　in　the　sun；　and
everything　was　got　ready　for　the　night。　I　did　not　care　for　myself；　but　I
was　sorry　for　the　hardship　that　my　wife　must　endure；　without　a　bed　or
tent。　My　men　cut　two　forked　poles；　upon　which　they　lashed　a　horizontal
bar；　which　supported　a　camp…sheet　to　protect　her　from　rain　or　dew。　A
pile　of　long　green　grass　was　laid　on　the　ground　beneath；　upon　which　was
stretched　a　mackintosh　camp…sheet；　and　a　good　thick　blanket。

We　had　been　most　fortunate　in　having　only　a　loss　of　one　killed　and　two
wounded　since　we　left　Masindi。

My　men　had　fired　away　an　enormous　amount　of　ammunition　during　the　march；
as　they　appeared　to　become　more　and　more　nervous　as　they　advanced。　Every
thick　clump　of　reeds　that　rose　a　few　feet　higher　than　the　surrounding
grass　was　supposed　to　conceal　an　enemy；　and　it　was　immediately　raked　by
a　hot　fire　from　the　advance…guard。

On　16th　June；　the　night　having　passed　quietly；　we　started　at　6。30　A。M。；
and　marched　silently。

There　was　a　curious　feeling　upon　first　waking　in　the　morning；　when　we
rose　and　buckled　on　the　ammunition…belts。　Every　one　was　aware　that　his
nerves　must　be　upon　the　stretch；　and　that　his　finger　must　be　ready　for
the　trigger；　from　the　commencement　till　the　end　of　the　march；　to　act
against　unseen　enemies。

Upon　arrival　at　a　stream　in　a　muddy　bottom；　we　were　immediately　attacked
by　a　strong　force　in　ambuscade。　Some　of　the　enemy　exposed　themselves
boldly；　and　rushed　upon　the　soldiers　just　in　front　of　the　rear…guard。
Several　were　shot　by　the　sniders；　but　one　fellow；　with　unusual　pluck；
speared　a　soldier　whose　musket　had　missed　fire；　through　the　chest。　This
poor　fellow；　thus　mortally　wounded；　grappled　with　his　assailant；　and
tugging　the　spear　from　his　own　wound；　he　drove　it　through　the　native's
heart。

The　rear　bugle　sounded　〃halt；〃　while　the　knapsack　and　cartouche…belt
were　detached　from　the　gallant　soldier；　whose　body　was　left　by　the　side
of　his　enemy。

We　marched　until　10。15　A。M。；　having　fought　nearly　the　whole　way；　and
expended　a　frightful　amount　of　ammunition。　We　had　now　arrived　at　our　old
halting…place；　Chorobeze　twenty…seven　miles　from　Masindi。

My　men　had　become　so　extravagant　of　their　cartridges　that　I　was　forced
to　interfere。　If　this　nervousness　should　continue；　we　should　be　soon
left　without　ammunition；　and　every　soul　would　be　massacred。

I　therefore　mustered　the　troops；　and　examined　all　their　pouches。　Some　of
the　advance…guard　had　fired　away　eighty　rounds　each；　only　during　the
morning's　march！

Many　had　fired　fifty　rounds！　The　muskets　had　not　used　so　many；　owing　to
the　greater　difficulty　of　loading；　but　they　also　had　been　frightfully
extravagant。

The　men　had　come　to　the　conclusion　that　the　only　plan　of　marching　in
safety　through　the　high　grass；　which　was　full　of　unseen　enemies；　was　to
constitute　themselves　into　a　sort　of　infernal　machine；　that　would　be
perpetually　emitting　fire　and　bullets　on　all　sides。

This　was　all　very　well　with　an　unlimited　supply　of　ammunition；　but　we
had　no　idea　of　what　might　still　be　in　store　for　us。　We　were　now　slightly
more　than　fifty　miles　from　Foweera。　Fortunately；　in　our　journey　from　the
river　to　Masindi；　I　had　timed　every　march　within　five　minutes；　and　I　had
all　particulars　in　my　note…book；　therefore　I　could　guess　the　position
pretty　closely　during　the　morning's　advance。

Having　mustered　all　the　men；　I　turned　out　all　the　ammunition　from　their
pouches。　The　cartridges　were　counted。

I　examined　all　the　reserve　ammunition。

The　total；　including　that　from　the　men's　cartouche…boxes；　was　cartridges
for　snider　rifles　4；540　and　cartridges　for　muskets　4；330；　making　a　total
of　8；870　rounds。

I　now　addressed　the　men；　and　abused　them　most　forcibly；　calling　them
〃old　women；〃　and　several　other　uncomplimentary　epithets　for　soldiers。　I
divided　among　them　forty　rounds　each；　and　I　swore　solemnly　by　their
prophet；　〃that　I　would　not　give　them　another　cartridge　from　this　spot
（Chorobeze）　until　we　should　reach　Major　Abdullah's　detachment　at
Fatiko。〃

I　explained　that　if　any　man　should　fire　away　his　ammunition；　he　should
continue　the　march　with　an　empty　pouchWah　Illahi！　Illahi　！

I　gave　the　most　positive　command；　that　in　future　not　a　shot　should　be
fired　without　orders；　unless　spears　actually　were　thrown；　on　which
occasions　the　troops　would　fire　a　few　shots　exactly　into　the　spot　from
which　the　weapons　had　arrived；　but　on　no　account　was　a　bullet　to　be
fired　at　random。

I　dismissed　the　men　with　this　warning；　and　set　them　to　work　to　construct
a　night　defence　as　usual。

It　was　a　most　fortunate　peculiarity　of　the　Unyoros　that　they　did　not
attack　at　night…time。　This　was　a　grievous　fault　upon　their　side。　If　they
had　surrounded　us　every　night；　they　would　have　kept　us　awake；　and　not
only　would　have　tired　the　men　out；　but　they　would　have　caused　a　useless
expenditure　of　ammunition。

On　17th　of　June；　we　started　at　6。15　A。M。；　with　the　intention　of　reaching
Koki。　I　recognized　several　villages；　but　we　passed　them　without　halting。
We　at　length　arrived　at　a　fine；　broad　route；　that　was　sufficiently　wide
for　a　dog…cart。　This　had　evidently　been　recently　prepared；　and　there
could　be　no　doubt　that　it　was　arranged　as　a　snare　that　would　lead　us
into　some　powerful　ambuscade。　At　the　same　time；　the　compass　showed　that
the　broad　path　led　in　the　right　direction。

I　halted　the　force；　and　went　to　the　front　to　examine　the　road。　There　was
no　other　path。　It　was　therefore　incumbent　upon　us　to　keep　to　the　broad
route；　although　we　knew　that　it　must　lead　us　to　a　trap　prepared　for　our
destruction。

It　was　like　walking　upon　ice　that　was　known　to　be　unsafe。　We　advanced。

For　about　half　an　hour　we　marched　without　opposition。　　This　was　a　longer
interval　than　usual　to　be　free　from　an　attack。　At　length　we　arrived
where　the　broad　road　suddenly　terminated。　The　advance…guard　halted。

We　searched　for　a　path；　and　at　length　discovered　the　original　narrow
route　a　few　paces　to　our　left。

This　had　been　purposely　concealed　by　grass　and　boughs。

We　had　hardly　entered　this　path　when　we　were　suddenly　attacked。　　A
horsekeeper　was　wounded　by　a　spear；　which　passed　through　his　leg；　behind
the　knee；　and　cut　the　sinew；　thus　rendering　him　helpless。　He　was
immediately　placed　upon　a　donkey。　The　unfortunate　lad　who　led　the　horse
a　few　paces　before　me　now　uttered　a　wild　shriek；　as　a　spear　passed
completely　through　his　body。　The　poor　boy　crept　to　me　on　his　hands　a