ismailia-第86章

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screams；　drums；　horns；　whistles　from　many　thousand　concealed　enemies；
for　an　instant　startled　the　troops！　A　tremendous　rush　in　the　grass　gave
notice　of　a　general　attack　from　an　immensely　powerful　ambuscade。　The
officers　did　their　duty。

Every　load　was　upon　the　ground；　and　in　a　moment　alternate　files　were
facing　to　the　right　and　left；　kneeling　just　as　the　lances　began　to　fly
across　the　path。　The　bugles　rang　out　〃fire；〃　and　the　fight　commenced　on
our　side。

I　saw　several　lances　pass　within　an　inch　or　two　of　my　wife's　head；
luckily　we　were　kneeling　on　one　knee。　The　file…firing　was　extremely
good；　and　the　sniders　rattled　without　intermission。　The　grass　was　so
dense；　that　simple　buck…shot　would　be　reduced　to　a　very　limited　range；
although　excellent　at　close　quarters。　The　servants　quickly　handed　the
elephant　breechloaders；　and　a　double　shot　to　the　right　and　left　was
followed　by　the　loud　explosion　of　the　picrate　of　potash　shells　against
some　unseen　objects；　either　men　or　trees。

A　quick　repetition　of　the　picrate　shells　seemed　to　affect　the　spirit　of
the　attack。　I　imagine　that　the　extremely　loud　explosion　of　the　shells　in
the　midst；　and　perhaps　also　in　the　rear　of　the　enemy；　led　them　to
suppose　that　they　were　attacked　from　behind。

It　is　difficult　to　say　how　long　the　attack　continued；　but　a　vast　amount
of　ammunition　was　expended　before　the　lances　ceased　to　fly　through　the
line；　and　the　drums　and　horns　were　at　length　heard　at　a　greater　distance
in　the　rear。　The　bugle　at　once　sounded　the　〃advance；〃　and　I　marched　the
men　forward；　crossing　the　stream　at　the　bottom；　and　gained　the　open；
where　we　found　ourselves　in　a　kind　of　swampy　field　of　about　ten　acres。
〃Ha！〃　exclaimed　many　of　the　soldiers；　〃if　we　could　only　get　them　on　a
clear　space　like　this。〃

The　men　were　mustered。　　Poor　Howarti　was　dead；　and　they　had　left　him　in
the　grass　by　the　roadside；　as　it　was　impossible　to　transport　him。

The　rear…guard　had　been　hotly　pressed；　and　the　natives　had　rushed　upon
the　path　close　to　the　sniders；　which　had　punished　them　severely。　Had　we
depended　upon　muzzle…loading　muskets；　the　party　would　have　been　quickly
destroyed；　the　sharp　fire　of　the　sniders　at　close　quarters　must　have
caused　immense　loss　at　the　first　onset。

I　now　determined　to　lighten　the　loads　considerably。　　It　was　difficult　to
carry　the　angarebs；　as　the　leas　caught　in　the　high　grass。　I　spoke　a　few
words　to　my　men；　who　declared　that　they　were　not　afraid　of　the　natives
if　they　were　not　so　heavily　laden。

We　collected　wood　and　made　a　fire；　upon　which　I　ordered　everything　to　be
burnt　that　was　really　cumbersome。　The　bedsteads　were　broken　up；　a　case
of　good　French　cognac　was　committed　to　the　flames；　Lieutenant　Baker's
naval　uniform；　with　box；　&e。；　the　cocked　hat　frizzled　up　on　the　top　of
the　bonfire。

The　men　were　provided　with　raw　hides；　upon　which　they　slept　at　night；
these　were　now　wet　through　and　cumbersome：　I　therefore　ordered　them　to
be　thrown　into　the　high　grass　and　abandoned。

The　brandy　bottles　burst　upon　the　fire。　　A　sergeant　of　the　〃Forty
Thieves；〃　named　Fadlullah；　had　been　attending　to　the　heap　of　burning
materials；　and　I　saw　him　stoop　over　the　flames；　as　though　intending　to
save　one　of　the　liquor　bottles　for　himself。　At　this　moment　several　burst
and　saturated　his　loose　cotton　trousers　with　blazing　spirit。　The　man
vainly　endeavoured　to　extinguish　the　fire；　and　he　danced　wildly　about；
until　I　seized　and　threw　him　down　in　the　swamp；　and　quickly　drew　the　wet
green　grass　over　him　and　subdued　the　flames。　He　was　severely　burnt　about
the　legs；　from　which　the　skin　slipped　off　in　large　flakes。

I　now　had　to　doctor　him；　when　every　man's　legs　ought　to　have　been　in　the
best　order。　Fortunately　I　had　a　little　oil　（for　the　lamp）；　and　the
wounds　were　quickly　dressed　and　bandaged　with　cotton　wool　and　lint。

The　force　was　now　much　relieved；　as　the　loads　had　been　lightened。　
During　the　operation　of　burning　the　supplies；　the　best　shots　of　the
〃Forty　Thieves〃　had　been　stationed　to　pick　off　any　natives　who　attempted
to　spy　our　movements　by　ascending　the　lofty　trees。

I　now　gave　the　order　for　the　advance；　and　the　march　recommenced。　In　a
few　minutes　we　were　once　more　buried　in　the　gigantic　grass　jungle。

We　had　hardly　entered　the　covert　when　the　shouts　and　blowing　of　horns
and　beating　of　drums　once　more　commenced。　This　was　the　signal　to
ambuscades　in　front　that　we　were　moving　forward。

In　the　course　of　an　hour's　march；　the　rear　bugle　had　sounded　〃halt〃　at
least　half　a　dozen　times；　as　two　of　the　donkeys　were　weakly；　and　could
not　be　driven　on　without　difficulty。

Again　the　rear　bugle　sounded　〃halt！〃　I　immediately　sent　the　sergeant　of
the　bodyguard；　Mohammed…el…Feel；　to　shoot　the　donkeys；　and　to　throw
their　loads　into　the　high　grass。　Two　shots　announced　their　end。

The　bugle　sounded　〃advance〃；　and　we　at　length　travelled　comfortably。　
The　weather　was　fine：　we　rejoiced　in　the　sun；　as　it　dried　our　reeking
clothes。

Suddenly　the　advance…guard　opened　fire！　then　the　rear…guard　was　closed
upon　by　a　sudden　rush　of　the　enemy；　and　the　whole　line　commenced
file…firing　into　the　thick　covert。

I　ordered　the　bugler　to　sound　〃forward；〃　and　〃cease　firing；〃　as　the　men
were　getting　a　little　wild。

One　of　〃The　Forty〃；　Ali　Goboor；　had　been　wounded　by　a　lance　through　the
leg；　but　he　managed　to　limp　along。

We　now　began　to　understand　the　places　at　which　we　were　sure　to　meet　an
ambuscade。　Whenever　we　descended　a　slope　towards　a　marshy　bottom；　there
was　certain　to　be　a　large　force　concealed　behind　the　lofty　reeds　that
grew　in　the　swamp。　I　ordered　the　advance…guard　to　fire　a　few　shots　low
down　in　the　reels　whenever　they　should　approach　these　places。　By　this
plan　we　generally　induced　the　enemy　to　throw　their　spears　before　we　were
in　the　midst；　in　which　case　we　opened　a　heavy　fire　into　the　grass；　and
marched　straight　forward。

The　ambuscades　had　been　carefully　planned。　　A　row　of　grass　of　perhaps
two　or　three　yards　in　thickness　was　left　standing　in　its　natural
position　along　the　path；　behind　this　vegetable　wall；　the　grass　had　been
either　cut　down　or　torn　up；　so　as　to　afford　a　clear　space　for　the
natives　to　take　a　good　run　when　throwing　their　lances。　They　accordingly
waited　until　we　should　enter　the　snare；　and　they　calculated　their
opportunity　for　making　a　combined　attack　when　they　considered　that　our
line　of　march　was　exactly　opposite。　Of　course　they　could　not　see　us
through　the　thick　screen　of　brass　any　more　than　we　could　distinguish
them。

We　were　at　an　additional　disadvantage；　as　we　were　always　exposed　to
attacks　from　fresh　enemies；　the　route　was　occupied　throughout；　thus　they
were　not　cowed　by　the　defeats　of　every　ambuscade　in　the　rear。

Considering　the　great　numbers　of　spears　that　had　flown　like　flashes　of
light　through　the　line；　it　was　astonishing　that　we　had　not　had　more
numerous　casualties。　Several　men　had　been　struck　on　their　knapsacks；
which　had　served　as　shields。

We　at　length　came　to　an　exceedingly　awkward　place；　that　I　felt　sure
would　be　well　occupied。　Upon　our　right　lay　a　row　of　rocky　hills；　to
which　we　were　marching　parallel。　We　had　to　descend　through　forest　to　low
ground。　To　reach　this　it　was　necessary　to　pass　between　numerous　blocks
of　granite　that　completely　commanded　the　path。　Each　block　was　about
twenty　or　twenty…five　feet　high；　and　several　much　exceeded　this　height。
The　base　was　the　usual　high　grass　and　forest。

I　ordered　the　men　not　to　fire　unless　they　should　see　the　enemy；　and　to
take　a　good　aim。

Presently；　as　we　descended　through　the　pass；　the　attack　commenced。　Two
spears　struck　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　one　in　the　fore…arm；　the　second
ripped　his　tough　leather　gaiter；　and　glanced　off。

The　sniders　were　ready；　as　the　enemy　were　obliged　to　show　their　heads
above　the　rocks；　and　one　fellow；　who　was　exactly　above　us；　either　lost
his　nerve；　or　received　a　bullet；　which　allowed　his　lance　to　come
rattling　down　the　rocks　as　a　complete　failure。　I　ordered　the　bugler　to
continue　to　sound　〃forward〃　（Illah　Reh）；　as　it　was　advisable　to　push
through　this　awkward　place　as　quickly　as　possible。

Directly　that　we　were　out　of　the　pass；　I　tied　up　Abd…el…Kader's　arm；　and
we　continued　the　march　until　we　halted　at　2。5　P。M。；　in　a　piece　of　open
cultivated　ground；　where　I　determined　to　bivouac　for　the　night。

I　had　resolved　always　to　finish　the　day's　journey　by　one　march；　as　it
would　afford　time　for　erecting　a　protection　of　thorns　and　branches　of
trees　to　prevent　a　sudden　night　attack。

Fortunately　the　weather　was　fine。　　Abd…el…Kader　was　now　faint　and　weak
from　loss　of　blood。　I　attended　to　his　wound；　which　was　an　ugly　gash；　and
gave　him　a　good　dose　of　brandy；　and　advised　him　to　go　to　sleep。

Lieutenant　Baker　and　the　other　officers　assisted　in　erecting　the　defence
of　thorns。　All　the　wet　clothes　were　spread　out　to　dry　in　the　sun；　and
everything　was　got　ready　for　the　night。　I　did　not　care　for　myself；　but　I
was　sorry　for　the　hardship　that　my　wife　must　endure；　without　a　bed　or
tent。　My　men　cut　two　forked　poles；　upon　which　they　lashed　a　horizontal
bar；　which　supported　a　camp…sheet　to　protect　her　from　rain　or　dew。　A
pile　of　long　green　grass　was　laid　on　the　ground　beneath；　upon　which　was
stretched　a　mackintosh　camp…sheet；　and　a　good　thick　blanket。

We　had　been　most　fortunate　in　having　only　a　loss　of　one　killed　and　two
wounded　since　we　left　Masindi。

My　men　had　fired　away　an　enormous　amount　of　ammunition　during　the　march；
as　they　appeared　to　become　more　and　more　nervous　as　they　advanced。　Every
thick　clump　of　reeds　that　rose　a　few　feet　higher　than　the　surrounding
grass　was　supposed　to　conceal　an　enemy；　and　it　was　immediately　raked　by
a　hot　fire　from　the　advance…guard。

On　16th　June；　the　night　having　passed　quietly；　we　started　at　6。30　A。M。；
and　marched　silently。

There　was　a　curious　feeling　upon　first　waking　in　the　morning；　when　we
rose　and　buckled　on　the　ammunition…belts。　Every　one　was　aware　that　his
nerves　must　be　upon　the　stretch；　and　that　his　finger　must　be　ready　for
the　trigger；　from　the　commencement　till　the　end　of　the　march；　to　act
against　unseen　enemies。

Upon　arrival　at　a　stream　in　a　muddy　bottom；　we　were　immediately　attacked
by　a　strong　force　in　ambuscade。　Some　of　the　enemy　exposed　themselves
boldly；　and　rushed　upon　the　soldiers　just　in　front　of　the　rear…guard。
Several　were　shot　by　the　sniders；　but　one　fellow；　with　unusual　pluck；
speared　a　soldier　whose　musket　had　missed　fire；　through　the　chest。　This
poor　fellow；　thus　mortally　wounded；　grappled　with　his　assailant；　and
tugging　the　spear　from　his　own　wound；　he　drove　it　through　the　native's
heart。

The　rear　bugle　sounded　〃halt；〃　while　the　knapsack　and　cartouche…belt
were　detached　from　the　gallant　soldier；　whose　body　was　left　by　the　side
of　his　enemy。

We　marched　until　10。15　A。M。；　having　fought　nearly　the　whole　way；　and
expended　a　frightful　amount　of　ammunition。　We　had　now　arrived　at　our　old
halting…place；　Chorobeze　twenty…seven　miles　from　Masindi。

My　men　had　become　so　extravagant　of　their　cartridges　that　I　was　forced
to　interfere。　If　this　nervousness　should　continue；　we　should　be　soon
left　without　ammunition；　and　every　soul　would　be　massacred。

I　therefore　mustered　the　troops；　and　examined　all　their　pouche