ismailia-第81章

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with　SEVEN　jars　of　cider；　and　two　large　packages　of　flour；　which　he
assured　me　had　been　borrowed　from　Rahonka。　He　was　exceedingly　polite；
and　smiled　and　bowed；　beseeching　me　to　accept　the　cider；　as　plenty　of
corn　would　be　sent　on　the　following　day；　when　better　arrangements　would
be　made　for　future　supplies。

I　could　no　longer　refuse　the　cider；　therefore　I　sent　for　Abd…el…Kader；
and　gave　him　five　jars　for　the　officers　and　troops。

It　was　at　this　time　about　seven　o'clock；　and　we　sat　down　to　dinner　in
the　divan；　as　it　was　too　chilly　to　dine　outside。

We　had　just　finished　dinner；　when　Abd…el…Kader　suddenly　entered　the
divan　in　a　state　of　troubled　excitement；　to　inform　me　that　〃many　of　the
troops　appeared　to　be　dying；　and　they　had　evidently　been　POISONED　by　the
plantain　cider！〃

I　inquired　〃how　many　men　had　drunk　from　the　jars？〃　He　could　not　tell；
but　he　feared　that　at　least　half　the　company　had　taken　some　portion；
more　or　less。　He　had　himself　drunk　a　tumblerful；　and　he　already　felt
uncomfortable；　with　a　tightness　of　the　throat；　and　a　burning　pain　in　his
inside。

I　at　once　flew　to　my　medicinal　arms。　Independently　of　the　large
medicine…chest；　I　had　a　small　box；　about　nine　inches　by　five；　which
contained　all　that　could　be　desired　for　any　emergency。　This　little　chest
had　been　my　companion　for　twenty…five　years。

I　begged　my　wife　to　get　as　much　mustard　and　strong　salt　and　water　ready
as　she　could　mix　in　a　hurry；　and　I　started　off　with　Abd…el…Kader　and
Lieutenant　Baker。　I　immediately　sent　Monsoor　to　find　Umbogo。

On　arrival　at　the　camp；　which　was　about　120　yards　distant；　my　first
order　was　to　double　all　the　sentries。

I　found　the　men　in　a　terrible　state。　Several　lay　insensible；　while　about
thirty　were　suffering　from　violent　constriction　of　the　throat；　which
almost　prevented　them　from　breathing。　This　was　accompanied　by　spasms　and
burning　pain　in　the　stomach；　with　delirium；　a　partial　palsy　of　the　lower
extremities；　and　in　the　worst　cases；　total　loss　of　consciousness。

I　opened　the　jaws　of　the　insensible；　and　poured　down　a　dessert…spoonful
of　water；　containing　three　grains　of　emetic　tartar；　and；　in　about　ten
minutes；　I　dosed　everybody　who　had　partaken　of　the　poisoned　cider　with
the　same　emetic；　while　I　insisted　upon　a　flood　of　mustard　and　salt　and
water　being　swallowed。　Fortunately　we　had　everything　at　hand。　The
soldiers　who　were　sound　were　all　nursing　the　sick；　and　they　poured　down
gallons　of　brine；　until　the　patients　began　to　feel　the　symptoms　of　a
rough　passage　across　the　British　Channel。

My　servants　always　kept　the　lanterns　trimmedthis　was　a　positive
order。　The　lights　were　now　moving　to　and　fro；　and　having　seen　all　the
poisoned　under　the　full　effect　of　a　large　dose　of　tartarised　antimony；
with　an　accompaniment　of　strong　brine　and　mustard；　I　returned　to　the
divan；　where　I　found　Umbogo　had　just　arrived　with　Monsoor；　who　had　met
with　him　at　his　own　hut。

I　sat　quietly　at　the　table　as　though　nothing　had　occurred。

〃Are　you　fond　of　merissa；　Umbogo？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　replied。

〃Would　you　like　to　drink　some　that　you　brought　from　Kabba　Rega；　this
evening？〃

〃Yes；　if　you　have　any　to　spare；〃　replied　Umbogo。

I　ordered　Monsoor　to　fill　a　gourd…shell　that　would　contain　about　a
quart。　This　was　handed　to　him；　together　with　a　reed。

Umbogo　began　to　suck　it　vigorously　through　the　tube。　My　wife　thought　he
was　shamming。

〃Drink　it　off；　Umbogo！〃　I　exclaimed。

He　drank　with　enjoymentthere　was　no　mistake。

〃Stop　him！that's　enough；　Umbogo！　Don't　drink　it　all。〃　The　man　was
evidently　not　guilty；　although　he　had　been　employed　to　bring　the
poisoned　stuff。

Umbogo　had　only　to　leave　the　divan　and　turn　the　corner；　before　he　fell
to　the　ground；　with　the　same　symptoms　that　had　been　exhibited　among　the
men。　He　had　drunk　more　than　the　others。　His　eyes　were　blood…stained；　and
nearly　started　from　his　head；　as　he　strove　wildly　upon　the　ground　and
wrestled　with　those　who　endeavoured　to　assist　him；　in　a　state　of　total
unconsciousness。

I　was　by　his　side　immediately；　and　administered　the　same　remedies。

I　now　ordered　all　the　sick　men　to　be　either　carried　or　led　within　the
fort；　from　which　they　could　not　escape。　Those　who　were　slightly　better；
now　endeavoured　to　wander　about　in　delirium；　and　they　would　have　been
lost　in　the　high　grass　unless　I　had　thus　secured　them。

All　that　was　possible　had　been　done；　the　sick；　were　secured；　and　the
night　guards　for　relief　were　at　their　posts　with　double　sentries　awake
and　on　duty；　thus　no　man　would　sleep　within　the　station。

I　sent　Monsoor　to　call　the　chief；　Matonse；　whose　house　was　within　200
yards　of　the　government　divan。

Monsoor　shortly　returned　without　Matonse。　He　had　brought　an　interpreter
from　this　chief；　in　lieu　of　Umbogo；　who　was　incapacitated；　and　Matonse
had　sent　a　message　〃that　he　could　not　come　to　me　in　the　dark；　but　he
would　call　on　the　following　day。〃

In　the　mean　time　an　ominous　stillness　reigned　throughout　the　usually
boisterous　population　of　Masindi。　Not　a　sound　was　to　be　heard；　although
the　nightly　custom　of　the　people　was　singing；　howling；　and　blowing
horns。

My　arms　and　ammunition　were　always　in　readiness；　but　I　filled　up　my
pouches　to　the　maximum　of　fifty　cartridges；　and　at　midnight　I　went　to
bed。

I　woke　frequently　to　listen；　as　I　was　anxious；　and　therefore　slept
lightly。　The　faithful　Monsoor　was　under　arms；　and　was　pacing　throughout
the　whole　night　before　my　door；　he　never　slept。

At　about　2　A。M。　there　was　a　sound　throughout　the　town　of　fowls　cackling；
as　though　they　were　being　disturbed　and　caught　while　at　roost。

At　about　3　A。M。　the　lowing　of　cattle　was　heard；　as　though　Kabba　Rega's
cows　were　being　driven　off。

A　little　after　5　A。M。　I　got　up；　and　went　out　at　daybreak　to　visit　the
sick　within　the　fort。　I　found　Monsoor　waiting　by　my　door。

The　emetics　had　counteracted　the　poison；　and　my　patients；　although
weakly；　were　quite　out　of　danger。

Having　examined　them；　I　ordered　the　men　to　their　quarters；　and　they　all
left　the　fort；　with　the　exception　of　the　night　guard。

The　two　interpreters；　Umbogo　and　Aboo　Kooka；　were　secured　by　a　thin　cord
fastened　round　their　necks。

Having　given　all　the　necessary　instructions；　I　ordered　Monsoor　to　go　to
the　chief　Matonse；　with　a　message　that　I　wished　to　see　him；　as　the　men
had　been　ill　after　drinking　the　cider；　and　although　now　recovered；　it
would　be　satisfactory　if　he　would　examine　the　remaining　jars。

Monsoor　took　his　rifle；　and　accompanied　by　a　corporal；　Ferritch　Baggara；
one　of　the　best　soldiers　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　started　on　his　mission。
Matonse's　house；　as　already　described；　was　within　200　yards　of　the
government　divan。

It　was　now　about　5。45　A。M。　I　noticed　that　Kabba　Rega's　divan；　within
fifty　yards　of　the　government　house；　seemed　full　of　people；　some　of　whom
were　washing　their　faces；　as　though　they　had　just　risen　from　sleep。

My　wife　had　now　joined　me；　and；　according　to　my　usual　habit；　I　strolled
up　and　down　the　broad　gravelled　approach　and　smoked　a　short　pipe。　We
were　conversing　together　about　the　present　state　of　affairs；　and　were
anxiously　expecting　the　return　of　Monsoor　with　Matonse；　who　would
perhaps　throw　some　light　on　the　matter。

I　was　followed　closely　by　a　bugler　and　a　choush　（sergeant）。　The　main
entrance　of　the　approach　from　the　town　was　bordered　upon　either　side　by
a　dense　plantation　of　castor…oil　trees；　which　continued　in　a　thick
fringe　along　the　edge　of　the　garden；　so　as　to　screen　the　huts　from　our
view；　although　they　were　within　twenty　paces　of　the　entrance　of　the
drive。

The　castor…oil　bushes　were　within　five　yards　of　the　entrance；　and
gradually　increased　the　distance；　as　they　turned　obliquely　towards　the
private　divan　of　Kabba　Rega。

We　little　suspected　that　sharpshooters　were　already　concealed　within
this　dense　covert。

My　wife　and　I　had　reached　the　entrance　of　the　approach。　Nothing　seemed
to　denote　hostility　on　the　part　of　the　natives；　no　person　being　visible；
except　those　guards　who　occupied　the　king's　divan。

Suddenly　we　were　startled　by　the　savage　yells　of　some　thousand　voices；
which　burst　unexpectedly　upon　us！

This　horrible　sound　came　from　the　direction　of　Matonse's　house；　and　was
within　120　yards　from　the　spot　on　which　we　stood；　but　the　town　was　not
visible；　owing　to　the　thick　covert　of　oil　bushes。

The　savage　yells　were　almost　immediately　followed　by　two　rifle　shots　in
the　same　direction。

〃Sound　the　taboor！〃　Fortunately　I　gave　this　order　to　the　bugler　by　my
side　without　one　moment's　delay。

I　had　just　time　to　tell　my　wife　to　run　into　the　divan　and　get　my　rifle
and　belt；　when　the　sharpshooters　opened　fire　at　me　from　the　bushes；
within　a　few　yards。

I　had　white　cotton　clothes；　thus　I　was　a　very　clear　object。　As　I　walked
towards　the　divan　to　meet　my　rifle；　the　serjeant　who　followed　close
behind　me　fell　shot　through　the　heart。　Poor　fellow；　the　shot　was　aimed
at　me！

The　troops　had　fallen　into　position　with　extraordinary　rapidity；　and
several　ascended　the　roof　of　the　fort；　so　as　to　see　clearly　over　the
high　grass。　A　soldier　immediately　fell；　to　die　in　a　few　minutes；　shot
through　the　shoulder…blade。　Another　man　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　was　shot
through　the　leg　above　the　knee。　The　bullets　were　flying　through　the
government　divan；　and　along　the　approach。

A　tumultuous　roar　of　savage　voices　had　burst　from　all　sides；　and　the
whole　place　was　alive　a　few　instants　after　the　first　two　shots　had　been
heard。　Thousands　of　armed　natives　now　rushed　from　all　directions　upon
the　station。

A　thrill　went　through　me　when　I　thought　of　my　good　and　devoted　Monsoor！

My　wife　had　quickly　given　me　my　belt　and　breechloading　double　rifle。
（This　beautiful　weapon；　I　have　already　mentioned；　was　made　by　Mr。
Holland；　of　Bond　Street；　London。）　Fortunately　I　had　filled　up　the
pouches　on　the　previous　evening　with　fifty　rounds　of　cartridge。

The　troops　were　now　in　open　order；　completely　around　the　station；　and
were　pouring　a　heavy　fire　into　the　masses　of　the　enemy　within　the　high
grass；　which　bad　been　left　purposely　uncleared　by　Kabba　Rega；　in　order
to　favour　a　treacherous　attack。

The　natives　kept　up　a　steady　fire　upon　the　front　from　behind　the
castor…oil　bushes　and　the　densely　thronged　houses。

With　sixteen　men　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　together　with　Colonel
Abd…el…Kader　and　Lieutenant　Baker；　R。N。；　I　directed　a　heavy　fire　into
the　covert；　and　soon　made　it　too　hot　for　the　sharpshooters。　I　had
ordered　the　blue　lights　at　the　commencement　of　the　attack。　My　black
boys；　Saat　and　Bellaal；　together　with　some　soldiers；　now　arrived　with　a
good　supply。

Covering　their　advance　with　a　heavy　fire　from　the　sniders；　the　boys　and
men　rushed　forward；　and　immediately　ignited　Kabba　Rega's　large　divan。

These　active　and　plucky　lads　now　ran　nimbly　from　hut　to　hut；　and　one
slight　touch　of　the　strong　fire　of　the　blue　lights　was　sufficient　to
insure　the　ignition　of　the　straw　dwellings。

I　now　sent　a　party　of　fifteen　sniders；　under　Lieutenant　Ferritch　Agha；
one　of　my　most　courageous　officers；　with　a　supply　of　blue　lights；　to　set
fire；　to　the　town　on　our　left　flank；　and　to　push　on　to　the　spot　where
the　missing　Monsoor　and　Ferritch　had　fired　their　rifles。

Every　arrangement　having　been　rapidly　carried