ismailia-第56章

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yards　between　each；　they　advanced　with　their　bows　prepared；　and　the
arrows　on　the　string；　ready　for　a　shot　on　the　instant　should　game　start
on　foot。　There　were　many　boys　of　about　twelve　years　old；　all　of　whom
were　armed　with　bows　and　arrows；　and　they　advanced　in　the　same　line　with
the　men。　There　were　too　many　people；　and　the　game　became　scared；　so　that
after　a　long　walk；　we　returned　to　camp　without　having　fired　a　shot。

〃I　found　some　very　curious　flowers；　which　issued　from　the　ground　in
pods；　without　leaves；　these　burst　and　threw　out　beautiful　compact　silk
balls　in　great　numbers；　not　half　of　which　could　be　returned　to　the　pod
that　had　scattered　them。

〃On　22nd　February　we　had　purchased　and　stored；　in　expectation　of　the
arrival　of　the　troops；　3；740　lbs。　of　flour。

〃I　was　determined　to　carry　a　large　supply　to　the　south；　as　the　country
had　in　some　places　been　depopulated　by　the　slave…hunters。

〃February　23。I　went　out　with　Lieutenant　Baker；　accompanied　by　some
natives；　and　travelled　over　very　likely　ground；　composed　of　forest；
glades；　ravines　full　of　bamboos；　&c。；　until　we　reached　the　base　of　Gebel
Forke。

〃We　had　passed　over　several　miles　and　had　only　seen　a　few　small
antelopes；　when　upon　ascending　some　rising　ground　in　the　very　open
forest；　we　caught　sight　of　a　herd　of　tetel　bounding　along　through　some
high　grass　towards　some　low；　rocky　hills；　a　few　hundred　yards　distant。
There　were　many　large　trees　growing　out　of　the　clefts　of　the　rocks；　and
I　proposed　that　Lieutenant　Baker　should　go　round　the　hill　on　my　right；
while　I　should　creep　quietly　over　the　summit　of　the　rocks；　as　I　expected
we　should　find　the　antelopes　standing　in　some　sheltered　glade。

〃When　I　arrived　at　the　base　of　the　small　hill；　which　was　not　higher　than
seventy　or　eighty　feet；　and　was　composed　of　large　masses　of　granite；　I
carefully　ascended；　without　making　the　slightest　noise。

〃On　arrival　at　the　denuded　summit；　I　was　well　concealed　by　a　detached
block　of　granite　that　lay　upon　a　flat　weather…worn　surface　of　the　same
rock。

〃I　raised　my　head；　and　looked　in　vain　for　the　antelopes。　The　ground　was
a　beautiful　park；　characterized　by　numerous　masses　of　granite；　like
ruined　castles；　among　trees　of　all　shades　of　green。　The　ground　was
covered　with　young　grass　about　six　inches　high；　which　had　sprung　up
after　the　annual　fire　that　had　destroyed　the　last　year's　dry　herbage。

〃I　could　see　no　game。　Presently　I　observed　the　native；　who　was　a　few
yards　on　my　left；　making　eager　gestures；　and　pointing　with　his　finder　in
order　to　direct　my　attention。　I　at　once　perceived　a　family　of　wild　pigs
which　had　emerged　from　some　bush；　and　were　quietly　feeding　along　the
glade；　so　that　they　would　shortly　pass　in　front　of　me　within　sixty
yards。

〃The　natives　love　pork　beyond　all　other　flesh；　thus　I　had　a　good
opportunity　for　showing　them　a　little　treat。　With　a　quick　right　and　left
shot　I　knocked　over　two　pigs；　and　reloading　the　〃Dutchman〃　in　a　few
instants；　I　rolled　over　a　boar　that　had　galloped　off　to　about　120　yards'
distance。　This　animal　recovered　itself　and　got　away　to　some　place　of
cover。

〃Upon　the　arrival　of　Lieutenant　Baker　and　the　natives；　we　tracked　the
blood　for　about　300　yards　to　a　small　plot　of　high　grass　that　had　escaped
the　fire。　I　knew　that　we　must　find　the　wounded　boar　in　this　retreat。　I
therefore　ordered　the　natives　to　beat　it　out。　The　boar　soon　broke　cover
and　galloped　off　along　the　open；　but　quickly　rolled　over　as　a　shot　from
the　〃Dutchman〃　struck　it　behind　the　shoulder。　The　natives　were　delighted
with　the　success　of　the　rifle；　as　it　had　produced　three　fine　pigs　for
their　service　within　a　few　minutes。〃

〃February　24。　The　whole　of　the　troops　and　baggage　from　the　vessels
arrived　safely　to…day；　together　with　the　cattle　and　sheep；　thus　all　my
arrangements　have；　thank　God；　speeded；　and　I　am　now　in　possession　of　my
force　and　material。〃

Major　Abdullah　delivered　his　report。　As　I　had　expected；　he　had　been
attacked　in　great　force　by　the　natives　after　my　departure。　The　Baris；　as
usual；　had　employed　treachery；　which　had　very　nearly　succeeded。

A　day　or　two　after　I　had　left　the　vessels；　several　natives　had　desired
to　communicate　with　Major　Abdullah。　These　men　declared　that　they　had
nothing　to　do　with　Bedden；　and　that　all　the　Baris　of　the　east　side　of
the　Nile　desired　peace。

It　would　have　been　natural　to　suppose　that　after　so　recent　an　example　of
treachery　on　the　part　of　Bedden；　Major　Abdullah　would　have　been　keenly
suspicious；　he　was　nevertheless　deceived　by　the　specious　promises　of　the
wily　Baris。　This　officer　knew　my　wish　for　peace　and　good…will；　and　he
trusted　to　be　able　to　assure　me；　that　after　my　departure　he　had　been
able　to　establish　amicable　relations　with　our　late　enemies。

The　messengers　returned　to　their　villages；　and　natives　visited　the　camp
with　fowls；　tobacco；　and　various　articles　for　sale。　The　soldiers　were
ready　purchasers；　as　they　were　well　supplied　with　beads；　zinc　mirrors；
and　various　trifles　which　they　had　recently　obtained　from　the　government
magazines。　The　fault　of　my　men　lay　in　their　extravagance；　and　they
usually　spoiled　a　market　by　offering　too　much。　The　trade　commenced
vigorously；　and　the　now　peaceable　Baris　thronged　to　the　vessels；　and
mixed　freely　with　the　officers　and　troops。

On　the　night　of　February　17；　1872；　the　troops　were　fast　asleep。
Confidence　had　been　thoroughly　established；　and　there　was　no
apprehension　of　coming　danger。　My　officers　and　men　were　careless　of
precautions；　the　sentries　were　nearly　all　asleep。　The　cannon　had　been
loaded　with　shell　instead　of　canister。　The　Woolwich　tubes　had　been　put
away　so　safely　that　they　could　not　be　found　when　wanted。　The　gun　had　not
been　sighted　for　close　distance；　neither　had　any　of　my　most　positive
instructions　been　carried　out。　The　artillerymen　were　sound　asleep　upon
their　mats　around　their　neglected　gun。

I　have　already　described　the　tactics　of　Bari　night　attacks。　There　can　be
no　doubt　that　their　scouts　must　have　crept　close　to　the　camp；　and　must
have　returned　to　the　main　body　without　having　been　observed　by　the
sentries。　The　report　that　all　were　asleep；　or　off　their　guard；　had　been
delivered。

It　is　supposed　that　some　thousands　of　the　enemy　moved　cautiously
forward；　concealed　by　the　darkness；　upon　ground　that　otherwise　could　not
have　admitted　a　stealthy　approach。

Fortunately　for　the　expedition；　one　or　two　of　the　cattle　sentries　were
awake；　otherwise　the　entire　force　must　have　been　massacred。

The　Baris　crept　forward　without　being　observed；　until　they　arrived　near
the　silent　and　sleepy　camp。　Then　with　sudden　shrieks　and　yells　they
rushed　forward　in　a　mass　upon　the　unsuspecting　troops！

A　slight　impediment　may　check　an　assault　during　the　darkness　of　night。
The　only　protection　to　the　position　was　a　simple　line　of　thorn　branches
laid　in　a　row　about　twenty　paces　in　the　front；　running　parallel　with　the
river。　The　naked　legs　of　the　first　line　of　the　enemy　must　have　become
entangled　in　this　unseen　obstruction　for　a　few　seconds；　which　caused
sufficient　confusion　to　destroy　the　momentum　of　the　first　rush　forward。

The　sentries　by　the　ravine　immediately　fired；　and　the　sixty　men　who
formed　the　cattle　guard　quickly　responded；　and　poured　a　fire　into　the
enemy's　flank。

The　delay　caused　by　the　thorns　was　only　momentary；　but　it　had　been
sufficient　to　allow　the　troops　to　awaken　and　to　clutch　their　muskets。
Here　was　a　glorious　opportunity　for　the　gun；　if　loaded　with　canister　and
ready　at　point…blank　range！

The　enemy　were　already　at　the　muzzle。　The　Egyptian　artillerymen　forsook
their　piece　and　fled　ignominiously　to　the　vessels　for　protection。　Only
one　fine　fellow　had　stood　by　the　gun；　and　he　pulled　the　lanyard　when　the
crowd　of　natives　were　almost　upon　him。　Where　were　the　unfailing　English
tubes？　An　Egyptian　tube　had　been　placed　in　the　vent　in　spite　of　all　my
orders。　It　MISSED　FIRE！

The　gun　that　should　have　swept　a　clear　road　through　the　enemy　was
silent；　and　the　gallant　soldier　who　alone　had　stood　faithful　at　his　post
was　immediately　speared　through　the　body；　and　fell　dead。　The　gun　was　in
the　hands　of　the　Baris。

The　troops；　seized　with　a　panic；　fled　on　board　the　vessels；　where　they
were　with　difficulty　rallied　by　their　officers　so　as　to　open　fire　from
the　protection　of　the　banks　of　the　river。

The　Baris　were　prepared　with　fire　to　burn　the　ships；　which　they　not　only
succeeded　in　throwing　within　the　vessels；　but　they　killed　an　unfortunate
woman　with　a　lance；　who　was　on　the　fore　part　of　a　noggur。

Troops　had　rushed　into　the　cabins　and　upon　the　poop…deck　of　my
diahbeeah；　from　which　they　now　opened　fire　upon　the　enemy　who　were　at
the　same　time　exposed　to　a　flank　fire　from　the　sixty　cattle　guards。　Thus
checked　the　advance；　and　the　major；　Abdullah；　succeeded　in　leading　his
men　forward　and　recapturing　the　gun。　At　length　a　tube　was　found　and
fitted　in　the　vent。　Fortunately　the　Baris　were　ignorant；　and　the　lanyard
was　lying　by　the　gun。　Another　tube　failed；　but　after　some　delay；　the　gun
at　length　spoke；　but　unfortunately　not　with　canister。

It　was　already　too　hot　for　the　Baris；　who　were　between　two　fires；　and　a
few　shots　from　the　cannon　settled　the　affair　and　determined　the　retreat。

I　could　not　have　believed　in　such　negligence　and　folly　had　I　not　had　a
long　experience　of　Egyptian　troops；　whether　brown　or　black。　These　people
can　generally　be　surprised；　unless　their　commanding　officer　is　vigilant
and　most　severe。　Little　or　no　dependence　can　be　placed　on　the
non…commissioned　officers；　these　are　ignorant；　thoughtless　people；　who
having　learnt　from　their　Mohammedan　teachers　to　trust　themselves　to　God；
would　seldom　remain　awake　unless　kept　to　their　duty　by　their　superior
officers。

On　the　morning　following　this　attack；　the　big　drums　of　the　natives　were
sounding　in　all　directions　upon　both　sides　of　the　river。　Thousands　of
Baris　had　congregated　upon　the　various　heights；　and　it　appeared　that　a
general　attack　would　be　renewed　upon　the　camp。

It　was　not　considered　safe　to　drive　the　cattle　out　to　pasturage。

There　can　be　no　doubt　that　with　a　force　of　145　men；　Major　Abdullah
should　have　anchored　his　vessels　a　few　yards　from　the　shore；　and　have
then　made　a　vigorous　attack　upon　the　Baris。　He　was　provided　with　Hale's
rockets　in　addition　to　the　field…piece；　and　he　should　have　given　the
enemy　a　severe　example。

Instead　of　assuming　the　offensive；　he　remained　inactive；　which　so
encouraged　the　enemy　that　they　gathered　from　every　quarter；　and
naturally　concluded　that　the　troops　had　received　a　panic　from　the　night
attack。

At　this　critical　time；　the　scarlet　uniforms　of　my　fifty　men　appeared　in
the　rear　of　the　natives；　together　with　400　of　the　Lobore。　Some　of　my　men
belonged　to　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　and　the　Baris　upon　seeing　the　arrival
of　so　powerful　a　reinforcement；　immediately　dispersed；　with　much　blowing
of　horns　and　whistles　in　defiance　of　Major　Abdullah。

It　was　declared　that　the　Baris　had　suffered　severely　during　the　night
attack；　but　I　had　ceased　to　pay　much　attention　to　the　official　reports
of　the　enemy's　losses；　which　were　always　exaggerated。

Between　the　river　and　Lobore；　the　troops　had　marched　without　opposition；
and　they　had　followed　my　instructions　by　leav