ismailia-第84章

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〃Presently　they　said　they　would　come　close　to　us；　were　it　not　for　their
fear　of　the　two　sentries　with　their　rifles；　who　were　about　forty　yards
in　our　rear。

〃I　turned　round　to　order　the　sentries　to　retire　a　little。　　The　instant
that　my　back　was　turned；　one　of　the　treacherous　brutes　hurled　his　spear
at　me；　which　struck　quivering　in　the　earth　at　my　feet！　At　the　same
moment　they　bolted　into　the　high　grass；　accompanied　by　our　dragoman；
Abou　Kooka；　and　disappeared　at　once　like　fish　in　water！

〃The　treachery　of　the　negro　is　beyond　belief；　he　has　not　a　moral　human
instinct；　and　is　below　the　brute。　How　is　it　possible　to　improve　such
abject　animals？　They　are　not　worth　the　trouble；　and　they　are　only　fit
for　slaves；　to　which　position　their　race　appears　to　have　been　condemned。

〃I　believe　I　have　wasted　my　time　and　energy；　and　have　uselessly
encountered　difficulties；　and　made　enemies　by　my　attempt　to　suppress　the
slave　trade；　and　thus　improve　the　condition　of　the　natives。

〃It　is　now　4。40　P。M。；　and　I　am　anxious　about　Ramadan　and　Hafiz；　who　have
not　returned。

〃My　men　have　been　on　half　rations　since　the　8th　inst。；　and　we　have
supplies　only　for　to…morrow；　after　which　we　shall　be　obliged　to　forage；
unless　Kabba　Rega　sends　the　promised　provisions。　〃It　is　impossible　to
believe　one　word　in　this　accursed　country。　At　the　same　time　that　Kabba
Rega　declares　peace　and　good…will；　he　may　be　planning　a　surprise。　I　do
not　think；　however；　that　his　people　will　be　in　a　hurry　to　fight　after
the　lesson　they　received　on　the　8th　inst。

〃Nevertheless；　fighting　is　dangerous　work　in　this　country　of　high　grass；
where　troops　cannot　see　to　manoeuvre；　and　where　the　ground　is　everywhere
favourable　for　native　ambuscades。〃

When　I　returned　to　the　divan　with　the　spear　that　had　so　narrowly　missed
me；　through　the　cowardice　of　the　assailant　（who　should　have　made　sure　of
me；　had　he　not　been　nervous）；　my　wife　was　not　cheered　by　the　little
incident。　She　had　had　the　same　experience　as　myself　in　African　natures；
and　she　immediately　declared　against　the　pretended　sincerity　of　Kabba
Rega。

I　had　serious　misgivings。　　Nothing　can　happen　in　Unyoro　without　the
order　of　the　king。　The　superstitious　veneration　for　the　possessor　of　the
magic　throne　produces　a　profound　obedience。

On　the　other　hand；　this　attempt　at　murder　might　have　been　only　the
revenge　of　an　individual　who　had　perhaps　lost　his　house　and　property　in
the　conflagration　of　Masindi。

The　evening　arrived　without　tidings　of　either　Ramadan　or　Umbogo。　　I　was
now　without　an　interpreter。

The　troops；　and　their　wives　and　effects；　occupied　the　fort；　and　the
officers'　quarters　and　camp　had　been　abandoned。

It　was　about　8　P。M。；　and　dinner　being　over；　I　was　smoking　my　pipe　in　the
divan；　conversing　with　my　wife　and　Lieutenant　Baker　upon　the　situation
of　affairs；　when　a　sudden　bright　glare　attracted　my　attention。

An　officer　immediately　reported　that　the　abandoned　quarters　were　in　a
blaze　of　fire！

I　was　of　course　ready　in　an　instant；　and　armed；　and　accompanied　by　my
wife　and　Mr。　Baker；　I　really　enjoyed　the　beauty　of　the　scene　in　that
moment　of　anxiety。

Without　the　slightest　noise；　or　even　an　audible　whisper；　the　troops　were
all　in　position；　kneeling　on　the　ground　in　open　order　around　the　fort
and　the　divan；　keeping　the　most　vigilant　watch　for　the　appearance　of　an
enemy。　The　flames　from　the　camp　rose　about　seventy　feet　high。　There　was
not　a　breath　of　air；　thus　the　fire　danced　and　leapt　up　to　its　extreme
height；　and　illumined　the　neighbourhood　for　a　great　distance。

Not　an　enemy　was　to　be　seen。　The　soldiers　were　like　statues；　and　there
was　no　sound　except　the　roaring　of　flames。

Suddenly　loud　yells　broke　out　from　a　distance　of　about　200　yards　from
the　farthest　side　of　the　fort；　as　though　from　a　considerable　body　of
men。　Not　a　soldier　stirred　or　spoke。

I　had　cleared　the　grass　around　the　fort　and　station；　therefore　it　was
impossible　to　approach　us　unobserved。

The　natives　must　have　crept　up　stealthily；　and　fired　the　abandoned　camp
in　the　expectation　that　the　troops　would　have　rushed　down　to　extinguish
the　flames；　and　thus　the　fort　and　the　divan　would　have　been　at　the　mercy
of　an　attack　from　the　dark　side。

I　immediately　sent　a　strong　patrol　around　the　station；　but　not　a　soul
was　visible。　The　attempt　had　failed。

Once　more　the　luggage；　with　beds；　boxes；　&c。；　was　transported　from　the
divan　to　the　fort。

The　night　passed　quietly。　On　12th　June；　I　watched　the　natives　with　the
telescope；　and　I　observed　that　many　of　the　crowd　were　gesticulating　in
an　excited　manner。

I　was　almost　convinced　that　we　were　again　subjected　to　the　foulest
treachery；　and　I　was　extremely　anxious　about　Ramadan　and　Hafiz。　I　could
hardly　believe　it　possible　that　these　poor　men；　unarmed；　and　carrying　a
valuable　present；　would　be　cruelly　murdered。

The　day　passed　in　hope　and　expectation　of　their　return。　Late　in　the
evening；　the　act　of　incendiarism　of　the　preceding　night　was　renewed；　and
the　deserted　house　of　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader　was　in　a　bright　blaze　without
a　native　being　visible。

No　yells　were　heard；　nor　any　other　sound。　The　troops　turned　out　with
their　usual　quiet　discipline；　but　not　a　shot　was　fired。

The　13th　June　arrived。Still　there　were　no　tidings　of　either　Umbogo；
Ramadan；　or　Hafiz。　I　now　felt　convinced　that　the　young　villain；　Kabba
Rega；　had　played　me　false；　and　that　he　was　only　gaining　time　to　collect
and　organize　the　whole　force　of　Unyoro　to　attack　us；　and　to　line　the
path　to　the　river　with　ambuscades。

It　is　impossible　to　this　day　to　say　whether　Umbogo　was　true　or　false。　　I
never　saw　him　again；　and　the　unfortunate　Ramadan　and　Hafiz　were　wantonly
murdered。

At　about　10　A。M。；　13th　June；　we　were　let　into　the　secret　of　Kabba　Rega's
villainy。　A　sudden　rush　of　natives　was　made　upon　the　cattle；　which　were
grazing　within　sixty　yards　of　the　fort！　Poisoned　arrows　were　shot；　and　a
general　attack　was　made　upon　the　station。　Guns　fired；　the　bullets
whistled　over　our　heads；　and　I　thought　I　recognized　the　crack　of　our
lost　sniders　（those　of　Monsoor　and　Ferritch）；　that　were　employed　against
us。

The　curtain　had　now　risen。　　When　the　actual　fighting　arrived；　there　was
some　little　relaxation　from　the　intense　anxiety　of　mind　that　I　had
suffered　for　some　days。

I　at　once　ordered　the　men　into　line；　and　the　bugles　and　drums　sounded
the　charge　with　the　bayonet。

The　gallant　〃Forty　Thieves〃　led　the　way；　with　drums　beating　and　a　hearty
cheer；　and　dashed　through　the　ruins　of　the　town　and　straight　into　the
high　grass　on　the　other　side；　from　which　the　cowardly　enemy　fled　like
hares。

On　our　return　to　the　station；　I　at　once　ordered　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader　to
take　eighty　men　and　some　blue　lights；　and　to　destroy　every　village　in
the　neighbourhood。　The　attack　was　made　on　the　instant。　The　large
village；　about　700　yards　distant；　which　I　had　raked　with　the　fire　of　a
few　sniders；　while　Abd…el…Kader　descended　the　slope　to　the　attack；　was
soon　a　mass　of　rolling　flames。　In　an　hour's　time　volumes　of　smoke　were
rising　in　various　directions。

My　active　and　gallant　colonel　returned；　having　driven　the　enemy　from
every　position；　and　utterly　destroyed　the　neighbourhood。

I　had　made　up　my　mind。　　There　could　be　no　longer　any　doubt　of　the
diabolical　treachery　of　Kabba　Rega。　He　had　only　endeavoured　to　gain　time
by　specious　assurances　of　good…will；　combined　with　presents；　in　order　to
organize　the　whole　country　against　us。　The　natives　who　shot　arrows　must
have　come　from　Magungo；　as　none　of　the　other　districts　were　armed　with
bows。　The　arrows　that　had　been　shot　at　us；　which　my　men　had　collected；
were　thickly　poisoned　with　a　hard　gummy　matter。

It　was　now　rendered　certain　that　a　snare　had　been　laid　for　the　massacre
of　Major　Abdullah's　party。

Kabba　Rega　had　no　doubt　ordered　the　various　routes　towards　Rionga's
province　to　be　ambuscaded。

I　determined　at　once　to　push　straight　for　the　camp　at　Foweera　on　the
Victoria　Nile；　as　Rionga's　island　was　about　fifteen　miles　from　that
point。

Among　the　men　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃；　there　was　a　soldier　named
Abdullah；　who　had　an　extraordinary　instinct　for　finding　his　way。　This
man　never　forgot　a　path　if　he　had　ever　travelled　upon　the　same　route。

I　also　depended　upon　my　Baris　and　Molodi；　although　they　had　not　long
experience　of　the　path　by　which　we　had　arrived　from　Foweera　with　the
cattle；　they　were　clever　as　guides。

Unfortunately；　the　country　had　changed　terribly　by　the　immense　growth　of
the　grass　and　tangled　creepers。

I　felt　sure　that　the　route　would　be　occupied　by　the　enemy　throughout　the
whole　distance；　and　that　we　should　have　to　fight　every　mile　of　the　path
at　a　grave　disadvantage。

The　question　of　a　supply　of　food　was　vital。　　The　men　had　mostly
exhausted　their　provisions。

At　this　critical　moment；　when　every　man　of　the　expedition　felt　the　fatal
truth；　my　wife　confided　her　secret；　that　she　had　hitherto　concealed；
lest　the　knowledge　of　a　hidden　store　should　have　made　the　men
extravagant。　She　now　informed　them　that　in　past　days　of　plenty；　when
flour　had　been　abundant；　she　had；　from　time　to　time；　secreted　a
quantity；　and　she　had　now　SIX　LARGE　IRON　BOXES　FULL　（about　twelve
bushels）。　This　private　store　she　had　laid　by　in　the　event　of　some　sudden
emergency。

〃God　shall　give　her　a　long　life！〃　exclaimed　both　officers　and　men。　　We
had　now　enough　flour　for　the　march　of　seven　days　to　Foweera；　at　which
place　there　were　regular　forests　of　plantains。

My　herd　of　cattle　had　been　reduced　to　seventy；　and　I　much　doubted　the
possibility　of　driving　them　in　a　high　grass　country；　as　they　would
scatter　and　make　a　stampede　should　we　be　attacked；　they　would　be　scared
by　the　guns。

I　mustered　my　force　and　spoke　to　my　men；　to　whom　I　explained　their　exact
position；　and　my　plan　of　action。

I　should　immediately　divide　among　them；　as　presents；　all　the　cotton
stuffs　that　belonged　to　the　expedition。

Each　man　would　carry　three　pounds　of　beads　in　his　knapsack；　one…third　of
which　should　subsequently　belong　to　him。

The　line　of　march　would　be　thus　arrangeda　Bari；　who　professed　to　know
the　path；　would　lead　the　advance…guard　of　fifteen　sniders；　commanded　by
Lieutenant…Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　supported　by　myself　with　ten　sniders　in
charge　of　the　ammunition；　accompanied　by　Lieutenant　Baker；　my　wife；　and
two　servants；　carrying　double　breechloading　elephant　rifles。　The
rear…guard　would　consist　of　fifteen　sniders。　The　few　remaining　sniders
would　be　distributed　along　the　line。

Neither　the　advance；　nor　rear…guard　would　carry　any　loads　beyond　their
knapsacks　and　a　small　bag　of　flour。　Five　of　the　sniders　with　me　would
also　be　exempted　from　carrying　loads；　but　every　other　soldier；　and　every
woman　and　boy；　would　carry　either　one　of　the　metal　boxes　or　some　other
package。

I　explained　to　the　men　that　they　would　be　attacked　throughout　the　route
at　a　great　disadvantage；　but　that　success　would　depend　upon　the　strict
observance　of　orders　for　the　march　combined　with　the　utmost　coolness。

Each　man　was　to　keep　just　near　enough　to　be　able　to　touch　with　his
outstretched　hand　the　knapsack　of　the　man　before　him；　and　upon　no
account　to　widen　this　distance；　but　to　keep　the　line　intact。　Should　it
be　broken　by　the　sudden　rush　of　the