ismailia-第82章

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the　missing　Monsoor　and　Ferritch　had　fired　their　rifles。

Every　arrangement　having　been　rapidly　carried　out；　the　boys　and　a　few
men　continued　to　fire　the　houses　on　our　right　flank；　and　giving　the
order　to　advance；　our　party　of　sixteen　rushed　forward　into　the　town。

The　right　and　left　flanks　were　now　blazing；　and　the　flames　were　roaring
before　the　wind。　I　heard　the　rattling　fire　of　the　sniders　under　Ferritch
Agha　on　our　left；　and　knowing　that　both　flanks　were　now　thoroughly
secured　by　the　conflagration；　we　dashed　straight　for　Kabba　Rega's
principal　residences　and　court；　driving　the　enemy　before　us。　Colonel
Abd…el…Kader　was　an　excellent　officer　in　action。　We　quickly　surrounded
Kabba　Rega's　premises；　and　set　fire　to　the　enormous　straw　buildings　on
all　sides。

If　he　had　been　at　home　he　would　have　had　a　warm　reception；　but　the　young
coward　had　fled　with　all　his　women　before　the　action　had　commenced；
together　with　the　magic　bamba　or　throne；　and　the　sacred　drum。

In　a　few　minutes　the　conflagration　was　terrific；　as　the　great　court　of
Kabba　Rega　blazed　in　flames　seventy　or　eighty　feet　high；　which　the　wind
drove　in　vivid　forks　into　the　thatch　of　the　adjacent　houses。

We　now　followed　the　enemy　throughout　the　town；　and　the　sniders　told　with
sensible　effect　wherever　they　made　a　stand。　The　blue　lights　continued
the　work；　the　roar　of　flames　and　the　dense　volumes　of　smoke；　mingled
with　the　continued　rattle　of　musketry；　and　the　savage　yells　of　the
natives；　swept　forward　with　the　breeze；　and　the　capital　of　Unyoro　was　a
fair　sample　of　the　infernal　regions。

The　natives　were　driven　out　of　the　town；　but　the　high　grass　was　swarming
with　many　thousands；　who；　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　station；　still
advanced　to　attack　the　soldiers。

I　now　ordered　〃The　Forty〃　to　clear　the　grass；　and　a　steady　fire　of
snider　rifles　soon　purged　the　covert　upon　which　the　enemy　had　relied。

In　about　an　hour　and　a　quarter　the　battle　of　Masindi　was　won。　Not　a
house　remained　of　the　lately　extensive　town。　A　vast　open　space　of　smoke
and　black　ashes；　with　flames　flickering　in　some　places　where　the
buildings　had　been　consumed；　and　at　others　forked　sheets　of　fire　where
the　fuel　was　still　undestroyed；　were　the　only　remains　of　the　capital　of
Unyoro。

The　enemy　had　fled。　Their　drums　and　horns；　lately　so　noisy；　were　now
silent。

I　ordered　the　bugle　to　sound　〃cease　firing。〃　We　marched　through　the
scorching　streets　to　our　station；　where　I　found　my　wife　in　deep
distress。

The　bugle　sounded　the　assembly；　and　the　men　mustered；　and　fell　in　for
the　roll…call。　Four　men　were　missing。

Lying　on　the　turf；　close　to　the　fort　wall；　were　four　bodies　arranged　in
a　row　and　covered　with　cloths。

The　soldiers　gathered　round　them　as　I　approached。　The　cloths　were
raised。

My　eyes　rested　on　the　pale　features　of　my　ever　faithful　and　devoted
officer；　Monsoor！　There　was　a　sad　expression　of　pain　on　his　face。　I
could　not　help　feeling　his　pulse；　but　there　was　no　hope；　this　was　still。
I　laid　his　arm　gently　by　his　side；　and　pressed　his　hand　for　the　last
time；　for　I　loved　Monsoor　as　a　true　friend。

His　body　was　pierced　with　thirty…two　lance　wounds；　thus　he　had　fought
gallantly　to　the　last；　and　he　had　died　like　a　good　soldier；　but　he　was
treacherously　murdered　instead　of　dying　on　a　fair　battle…field。

Poor　Ferritch　Baggara　was　lying　next　to　him；　with　two　lance　wounds
through　the　chest。

The　other　bodies　were　those　of　the　choush　that　had　fallen　by　my　side；
and　the　soldier　who　had　been　shot　on　the　parapet。

We　were　all　deeply　distressed　at　the　death　of　poor　Monsoor。　There　never
was　a　more　thoroughly　unselfish　and　excellent　man。　He　was　always　kind　to
the　boys；　and　would　share　even　a　scanty　meal　in　hard　times　with　either
friend　or　stranger。　He　was　the　lamb　in　peace；　and　the　lion　in　moments　of
danger。　I　owed　him　a　debt　of　gratitude；　for　although　I　was　the　general；
and　he　had　been　only　a　corporal　when　he　first　joined　the　expedition；　he
had　watched　over　my　safety　like　a　brother。　I　should　〃never　see　his　like
again。〃

Monsoor　was　the　only　Christian；　excepting　the　European　party。

The　graves　were　made。　I　gave　out　new　cloth　from　the　stores　in　which　to
wrap　the　bodies　of　four　of　my　best　men；　and　they　were　buried　near　the
fort。

My　heart　was　very　heavy。　God　knows　I　had　worked　with　the　best　intentions
for　the　benefit　of　the　country；　and　this　was　the　lamentable　result。　My
best　men　were　treacherously　murdered。　We　had　narrowly　escaped　a　general
massacre。　We　had　won　the　battle；　and　Masindi　was　swept　from　the　earth。
What　next？

I　find　these　words；　which　I　extract　from　my　journal；　as　they　were
written　at　that　moment：…

〃Thus　ended　the　battle　of　Masindi；　caused　by　the　horrible　treachery　of
the　natives。　Had　I　not　been　quick　in　sounding　the　bugle　and　immediately
assuming　a　vigorous　offensive；　we　should　have　been　overwhelmed　by
numbers。

〃Since　we　have　been　in　this　country；　my　men　have　been　models　of　virtue；
nothing　has　been　stolen；　except　a　few　potatoes　on　one　occasion；　when　the
thief　was　publicly　punished；　and　the　potatoes　restored　to　the　owner；
neither　have　the　natives　been　interfered　with　in　any　manner。　I　have
driven　the　slave…hunters　from　their　country；　and　my　troops　from　Fatiko
are　ordered　to　restore　to　Unyoro　all　the　slaves　that　have　been　stolen　by
the　traders。　The　disgusting　ingratitude　and　treachery　of　the　negro
surpasses　imagination。

〃What　is　to　become　of　these　countries？　all　my　good…will　brings　forth
evil　deeds。〃

In　the　battle　of　Masindi　nothing　could　have　exceeded　the　cool；
soldier…like　bearing　of　both　officers　and　men。　Every　man　had　done　his
duty。　In　the　first　onset；　when　about　seven　or　eight　thousand　natives　had
suddenly　attacked　the　station；　the　men　had　not　only　fallen　into　position
for　the　defence　of　the　camp　with　extraordinary　alacrity；　but　they　had
behaved　with　extreme　steadiness　and　coolness；　and　not　a　man　had　moved
from　his　post　without　orders。

The　attacking　parties；　formed　exclusively　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　had
exhibited　an　activity　and　elan　for　which　this　gallant　little　corps　was
eminently　distinguished；　and　had　they　been　European　troops；　their
conduct　upon　this　occasion；　against　such　overwhelming　odds；　would　have
covered　them　with　glory。

We　had　no　newspaper　correspondents；　therefore　I　must　give　the　due　praise
to　my　officers　and　men。

During　the　day　I　established　patrols　throughout　the　now　cleared　space
lately　occupied　by　the　town。

In　the　afternoon　Umbogo　was　able　to　call　some　natives　who　were　within
earshot。　These　men　explained　that　the　chief；　Matonse；　was　the　cause　of
the　outbreak；　and　that　it　was　his　people　who；　by　his　orders；　had　killed
Monsoor　and　Ferritch。

Umbogo　had　been　set　at　liberty　during　the　fight；　but　I　now　secured　him
by　the　neck　to　a　leathern　thong　in　the　hand　of　a　sentry；　for；　although　a
good　man；　I　could　not　afford　to　lose　him；　and　the　devil　might　have
tempted　him　to　run　away。

In　the　afternoon　some　natives　cried　out　that　Kittakara　was　coming；　and
Lieutenant…Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　with　a　few　men；　immediately　went　out　to
meet　him。

Kittakara　would　not　approach　within　less　than　about　a　hundred　yards；　but
he　assured　Abd…el…Kader　that　the　outbreak　was　not　the　fault　of　Kabba
Rega；　but　that　the　responsibility　lay　with　Matonse；　who　had　escaped；　and
that　he　should　be　captured　and　delivered　up　to　me。

He　continued　to　assure　Abd…el…Kader　that　Kabba　Rega　had　already　ordered
provisions　and　a　large　number　of　elephants'　tusks　to　be　collected　for
us；　and　that；　although　for　the　present　he　was　hiding　through　fear　in　the
high　grass；　he　would　quickly　rebuild　his　divan　close　to　my　own；　so　as　to
live　in　friendship。

It　was　impossible　to　credit　one　syllable　in　Unyoro。　On　the　other　hand；
should　I　be　unable　to　bring　the　enemy　to　terms；　I　should　be　chained　to
the　spot；　as　it　would　be　impossible　to　transport　my　baggage。

It　was　an　awkward　position。　The　treachery　had　been　frightful；　and　I
could　only　attribute　it　to　Kabba　Rega's　orders；　in　spite　of　the
protestations　of　Kittakara。　If　I　should　be　right　in　my　suspicions；　what
would　become　of　Major　Abdullah　and　his　detachment？

Nothing　would　be　easier　for　the　300　natives　who　had　accompanied　my
people　with　the　post；　than　to　behave　well　on　the　route　to　Fatiko；　in
order　to　establish　confidence。　They　could　then　carry　all　the　effects　and
ammunition；　in　company　with　Abdullah　and　his　troops；　from　Fatiko　to
Unyoro；　and　in　the　prairie　wilderness；　they　might　murder　every　man　at
night　when　asleep；　and　possess　themselves　of　the　arms；　ammunition；　and
effects；　with　which　they　would　rejoin　Kabba　Rega。

This　was　a　frightful　idea；　and　there　could　be　no　doubt　that　such
treachery　had　been　planned；　if　Kabba　Rega　were　guilty　of　the　attempt　to
poison　the　troops　and　attack　us　by　surprise。　It　was　hard　to　disbelieve
his　guilt。

There　were　no　means　possible　of　communication　with　Abdullah。　In　case　of
necessity；　there　was　only　one　move；　this　was　to　march　to　the　Victoria
Nile；　and　form　an　alliance　with　Rionga；　the　old　enemy　of　Kamrasi's
family；　whom　I　had　always　refused　to　attack。　I　was　sure　that　he　must
have　heard　of　my　refusal　to　ally　myself　with　Kabba　Rega　against　him：
thus　he　would　be　favourable　to　the　government。

I　resolved　that；　if　hostilities　should　continue；　I　would　proclaim　Rionga
representative　of　the　government；　as　vassal…chief　of　Unyoro；　in　the　room
of　Kabba　Rega；　deposed。

Rionga　would　send　a　letter　to　warn　Major　Abdullah　at　Fatiko；　but　how　was
I　to　convey　my　baggage　and　ammunition　from　Masindi　to　Foweera；　without　a
single　carrier；　or　even　a　guide？

It　was　the　height　of　the　rainy　season；　and　the　grass　was　about　nine　or
ten　feet　high；　throughout　a　country　of　dense　and　tangled　forest。

I　had　no　interpreter　of　my　own；　Umbogo　was　Kabba　Rega's　slave；　and
although　I　fancied　that　he　was　fond　of　us；　I　had　no　faith　in　any　one　of
these　detestable　people。　This　want　of　confidence　was　keenly　felt　at　a
time　when　I　required　an　interpreter　in　whom　I　could　absolutely　trust。　I
was　obliged　to　confide　my　plan　to　Umbogo；　as　I　wished　him　to　find　some
man　among　the　natives　who　would　take　a　message　to　Rionga。

I　knew　that　many　people　hated　Kabba　Rega。　Umbogo　had　frequently　assured
me　that　Mashudi；　which　was　only　two　days　distant　from　Masindi；　to　the
south…east；　had　always　been　Rionga's　stronghold；　and　that　the　natives　of
that　district　would　rise　in　favour　of　their　chief；　should　any　reverse
befall　Kabba　Rega。

The　news　of　the　defeat　of　his　army；　and　the　complete　destruction　of　his
capital；　would　run　through　the　country　like　wild…fire。　It　was　well　known
that　Rionga　had　spies；　who　were　disguised　as　friends；　even　at　the　court
of　Kabba　Rega；　these　agents　sent　him　information　of　all　that　occurred。

If　Umbogo　could　communicate　with　one　of　these　people；　I　might　send　off
to　Rionga；　and　beg　him　to　send　300　men　to　Fatiko；　with　a　letter　from
myself　to　Major　Abdullah。　Rionga's　people　would　transport　the　effects
instead　of　Rabba　Rega's　carriers；　who　would　be　seized　and　held　as
hostages。　This　would　save　Abdullah　from　the　intended　treachery；　if　it
were　done　at　once；　but　there　was　not　a　moment　to　lose。

Already　fifteen　days　had　elapsed　since　my　party　with　the　post　had
started；　and　by　this　time　they　should　be　near　Fatiko；　（at