ismailia-第44章

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Thieves；〃　to　row　down　the　river；　and　to　recall　Abdullah's　detachment；
that　must　have　retreated　for　some　inconceivable　reason。　The　current　ran
at　nearly　four　miles　per　hour；　thus　the　boat　would　be　sure　to　overtake
them。

I　was　exceedingly　annoyed。　A　force　of　ninety　men　had　evidently　been
cowed　by　their　engagement　with　the　natives　on　the　previous　evening；　and
had　retreated　upon　Lieutenant…Colonel　Achmet's　position；　instead　of
joining　me　according　to　orders。　At　the　same　time　my　vessels　had　been　in
sight　only　a　mile　and　a　half　distant！　I　was　thus　left　with　a　small　party
of　thirty　men；　while　ninety　men　had　fallen　back。

This　was　an　example　of　the　utter　helplessness　of　the　officers　and　men
when　left　to　themselves。　If　the　natives　had　repeated　the　attack；　they
would　most　probably　have　got　into　dire　confusion。

Having　started　the　boat；　I　took　ten　men　of　〃The　Forty；〃　and；　accompanied
by　Lieutenant　Baker；　I　marched　along　the　bank　in　order　to　meet　the
detachment　on　their　return；　when　recalled　by　Mohammed　Deii。　During　the
march　I　continued　to　shoot　ducks；　as　this　amusement　would　deceive　the
natives　respecting　the　retreat　of　Major　Abdullah；　which　might　then　be
attributed　to　some　other　cause　than　fear。

In　about　an　hour；　I　distinguished　a　sail　coming　round　the　point　of　Gebel
（Mount）　Regiaf。　The　wind　was　fair；　and　she　quickly　ran　up　the　stream。　I
now　discovered　that　she　was　towing　the　boat　that　I　had　sent　down　the
river　to　recall　Abdullah's　detachment。　（This　was　a　vessel　from
Gondokoro　on　her　way　for　a　cargo　of　corn。　She　had　met　the　retreating
party　of　Abdullah；　and　had　brought　them　on　by　the　river。）

Upon　her　near　approach；　I　hailed　the　vessel　and　ordered　her　to　land　the
troops　（with　which　she　was　crowded）　upon　the　west　shore。

In　a　short　time；　Major　Abdullah　and　his　gallant　company　had　landed　and
formed　in　line。

His　excuse　for　the　precipitate　retreat　which　he　had　commenced　at
daybreak　was；　that　he　feared　a　renewed　attack；　and　he　was　short　of
ammunition。　He　had　therefore　determined　to　fall　back　on　the　station
occupied　by　Lieutenant…Colonel　Achmet。

He　appeared　to　have　forgotten　that　he　could　have　communicated　with　me　by
bugle。

I　inspected　the　men's　pouches；　and　found　that　most　of　them　had　eighteen
or　twenty　rounds　of　cartridge；　while　the　minimum　contained　eleven
rounds；　this　is　what　the　major　considered　a　short　supply　of　ammunition
for　a　march　of　a　mile　and　a　half　along　beautiful　open　country　to　my
vessels。

He　described　the　overwhelming　number　of　the　natives；　and　their　extreme
bravery　in　the　attack；　which　his　troops　had　repelled　without　any　loss　to
themselves　either　killed　or　wounded。　At　the　same　time　the　troops　under
his　command　had　killed　twenty　Baris；　whose　bodies　he　had　himself
counted。

I　now　ordered　them　to　advance　to　the　village；　as　I　wished　to　examine　the
position。　Upon　arrival　at　the　spot　where　the　battle　had　taken　place；
there　were　a　number　of　vultures　settled　in　various　spots　where　the
ground　was　marked　with　blood；　and　the　cleanly…picked　skeleton　of　a　man；
lying　close　to　the　euphorbia　hedge；　showed　that　the　Baris　had　really
come　to　close　quarters。　（The　officer　declared　that　twenty　of　the　enemy
were　slain；　while　the　soldiers　admitted　that　only　five　were　killed。
There　was　always　a　gross　exaggeration　in　the　reports。）

The　natives　had　carried　off　their　dead；　with　the　exception　of　the　body
that　had　been　cleaned　by　the　vultures；　this　must　have　been　a　stranger
who　had　no　friends；　as　the　Baris　are　very　particular　in　the　interment　of
their　people。

I　now　marched　my　men　along　the　high　ground　towards　the　south；　and
examined　the　numerous　habitations；　until　I　arrived　at　a　little　colony
comprising　six　villages；　all　of　which　were　full　of　corn。　Here　I　left
Major　Abdullah　and　his　detachment；　with　orders　to　collect　all　the　dhurra
from　the　neighbouring　villages；　and　to　form　a　central　depot　at　his
present　station；　after　which；　the　corn　could　be　thrashed　out　and　carried
to　the　vessels。　I　stationed　a　noggur　by　the　bank　exactly　opposite　his
position；　about　half　a　mile　distant。

The　natives　had　abandoned　the　neighbourhood：　and　hundreds　of　villages
remained　without　an　inhabitant。

On　3rd　November；　I　sent　off　vessels　heavily　laden　with　corn　to
Gondokoro；　under　the　command　of　Lieutenant　Baker；　with　instructions　that
the　detachment　under　Lieutenant…Colonel　Achmet　should　join　me　as　soon　as
possible；　and　that　empty　vessels　should　at　once　be　sent　to　my　corn
depot。

On　4th　November；　I　sent　fifteen　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　to　the　south；
where　I　had　discovered　large　quantities　of　corn　in　the　villages　that　had
been　until　now　undisturbed。　To　arrive　at　these　villages；　it　was
necessary　to　pass　over　very　high　ground；　which　obscured　them　from　our
view　when　on　the　diahbeeah。

My　men　had　built　themselves　huts；　and　had　formed　a　nice　little　camp；　on
the　hard；　stony　bank；　close　to　the　spot　where　my　diahbeeah　and　other
vessels　lay　alongside。　My　horses　were　picketed　in　the　centre；　and　we　had
transported　and　erected　a　great　number　of　granaries；　which　I　had　filled
with　cleanly…thrashed　corn；　to　await　the　arrival　of　the　return　vessels
from　Gondokoro。

I　was　superintending　the　arrangements　of　the　camp；　when　my　attention　was
attracted　by　exceedingly　steady　firing　in　single　shots　at　a　distance；　in
the　direction　taken　by　my　small　party　of　〃The　Forty。〃　Nothing　could　be
seen；　owing　to　the　high　ground　on　the　south。

I　immediately　ordered　my　horse；　and　accompanied　by　Monsoor　and　three
soldiers　of　〃The　Forty〃　I　rode　at　a　trot　towards　the　direction　of　the
firing。　I　had　left　a　small　guard　with　the　boats；　as　nearly　all　the　men
were　absent　in　the　interior　collecting　the　‘　dhurra。

After　riding　for　about　a　mile　and　a　half　over　high　ground　covered　with
fine　turf；　from　the　summit　of　which　I　had　a　beautiful　view　of　the
undulating　country　before　me；　with　the　White　Nile　flowing　through　the
valley；　and　high　mountains　in　the　distance；　I　came　suddenly　upon　a
village；　where　I　observed　two　of　my　〃Forty〃　mounted　as　sentries　upon　the
summits　of　the　tallest　huts。　A　little　in　advance　of　this　position；　I
found　the　remainder　of　my　party。　It　appeared　that　they　had　been
suddenly；　attacked；　but　the　sentries　on　the　house…tops　had　given　timely
warning。

There　could　not　have　been　a　more　suitable　country　for　rifle…practice；
as　it　was　completely　open　and　almost　devoid　of　trees。　The　fine；　swelling
undulations　were　intersected　with　deep　rocky　ravines　at　right　angles　to
the　river；　which　after　heavy　rains　brought　down　the　torrents　from　the
mountains。

My　arrival　on　the　summit；　on　a　white　horse；　attended　only　by　Monsoor　and
three　soldiers；　was　a　signal　for　a　great　blowing　of　horns　and　beating　of
drums。　Immense　numbers　of　natives　were　to　be　seen　in　all　parts　of　the
view　before　us。　They　ran　eagerly　from　their　villages；　and　collected　from
every　quarter；　evidently　bent　upon　a　fight　with　my　little　party。

I　ordered　my　men　to　cease　firing；　as　they　were　wasting　their　ammunition
uselessly；　and　destroying　the　prestige　of　the　rifles　by　missing　at　long
ranges。

I　ordered　a　general　advance　in　open　order；　about　four　yards　apart；　thus
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