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advance。〃 Again firing commenced； this time in volleys； then I heard
once more 〃cease firing；〃 and then 〃the retreat：〃 the attack was
repulsed。
I could not understand why my little station had not been attacked； but
I subsequently heard that the natives were more afraid of the 〃Forty
Thieves〃 than of the entire force。 Added to this was the powerful reason
that I had only a few cows for milk； while the attraction of many
thousand head of cattle induced an attack on the camp at Gondokoro。
On the following morning before sunrise I rode up to camp to hear the
news。 It appeared that the natives had actually surprised the sentries。
We had lost a corporal； killed； and a lieutenant and one soldier were
wounded by arrows。
The Baris and the Loquia had attacked in large force with the intention
of burning the station； as many were provided with flaming firebrands；
with which they had advanced bravely to the edge of the thorn fence。 Had
the station not been protected by this defence it is probable that the
enemy might have succeeded in firing the houses。
As usual； the troops had fired badly。 Such a fusilade as I had heard
should have covered the plain with dead。 The officers and men declared
that great numbers of the enemy were killed； but their comrades had
carried off the bodies。 This was true to a certain extent； as I saw
blood in many directions； and we found one Loquia lying dead with two
bullet wounds； through the head and thigh。
There can be no doubt that the camp was surprised through the neglect of
the patrol and the sleepiness of sentries； and it was only saved by the
thorn fence and the fire of so large a force as 1；100 men。 The colonel
in command of the troops； Raouf Bey； could give no satisfactory
explanation for the silence of the artillery； but he subsequently told
me they HAD FORGOTTEN ITS EXISTENCE in the excitement of the moment。
Another officer told me they had brought up one gun； but could not find
the key of the ammunition。 I remembered what David said in his haste；
and I came to the conclusion that they had been disgracefully surprised。
I determined to lose no time in protecting the station by a ditch and
earthwork； so that I could leave a garrison without risk； and I would
then attack the country in every direction。
The iron magazines were completed； and all goods and supplies were
stored。 The camp was so far finished that the men were housed。 I
therefore drew a plan for the fort； which I intrusted to the care of Mr。
Higginbotham； the chief engineer； for execution。 I gave orders that all
hands； including the sailors； should immediately be employed to dig the
fosse。 The expedition was well supplied with tools； and the work was
commenced with vigour； as the officers and men did not object to have a
deep ditch between them and the enemy。
I also planned a triangular fort as a protection to my small herd of
about a hundred milch cows at my own station。 The 〃Forty Thieves〃 did
not require a fort； but the cattle might be carried off by a sudden rush
that would induce a stampede unless they were well secured。
〃The Forty〃 set to work； assisted daily by thirty men from
head…quarters； and we soon had a strong fort； with ditch and rampart；
that defied attack。
A short time after the grand surprise of the camp at head…quarters； the
last attempt was made upon my little station； which ended as usual in my
men being well on the alert； and in the death of one of the scouts； shot
by the outlying guard through the thigh。 Before he died； he confessed
that the Belinian and the Loquia； together with the Baris of Gondokoro；
had united in the general attack on the camp on the 21st； but that they
had lost many men； who； being badly wounded； had died on the road during
the retreat。
My little station from this date went out of fashion； and the Baris
declined to attack； as they subsequently declared that my sentries were
never asleep like those at head…quarters。
〃The Forty〃 had earned a reputation that increased their self…respect。
Not only were they nearly sure to kill the wily scouts； but patrols at
night searched out the natives； and generally came upon them with fatal
effect。
CHAPTER X
DESTRUCTION OF THE SHIR DETACHMENT。
On July 30； 1871； I was astonished by the arrival of the tall sheik；
Niambore； with whom I had left an officer and six men in the Shir tribe；
to superintend the cultivation of corn。 This fine…looking fellow was
introduced； accompanied by five of his principal advisers。 He shortly
told me his story。 He had been four nights on the road； as he had not
dared to travel by day； fearing the Baris： thus； in the dark； he had
frequently wandered from the track。 In the daytime he had slept in the
concealment of forests。
He had run this risk in order to be the first to give me the bad news；
lest I should suspect him of foul play。 All my soldiers were killed；
except the major； Achmet Rafik； and a corporal！
When Abou Saood had passed his country some weeks since； his people had
attacked a neighbouring sheik； and had carried off a large number of
cattle； although he was aware of the presence of a government officer
with a very small detachment。 Abou Saood had sent three of the captured
cows as a present to the officer in command； Achmet Rafik； who； instead
of protesting against the razzia； had； Turk…like； actually accepted the
present； and thus had fallen into the snare。
The natives； smarting under the unprovoked attack； visited Niambore； and
desired him to send my men out of the country； as they were evidently
leagued with those of Abou Saood。 The sheik Niambore refused； and
declared that he should protect them until he received further orders
from me。 This implicated Niambore； and the neighbours then insisted upon
the sacrifice of Achmet Rafik and his few soldiers in revenge for their
lost cattle。 Niambore； with a chivalry that is rare among negroes；
declared his determination of sheltering my people until he should
communicate with me。 He was attacked at night by the neighbouring
sheiks； and my soldiers assisted him in the defence。 The attack was
repulsed； and he determined to return the compliment on the following
day； with the assistance of the soldiers。 After a long march across many
deep channels； the battle went against him； and in a precipitate
retreat； the soldiers could not swim the deep channels like Niambore's
people； they were accordingly overtaken and killed； with the loss of
their arms and accoutrements； now in possession of the natives。
Major Achmet Rafik and a corporal were safe； as they were both ill； and
had therefore not accompanied the five soldiers in the attack。 Niambore
had faithfully exposed himself to great danger in order to secure their
protection； and they were now in his keeping； concealed in a forest
about a day's march from the village which had been their station。
On the following day I sent the steamer off at 9 p。m。 with Niambore and
twenty men； the moon being full。 The river had risen about four feet six
inches； therefore there was no fear of her touching a sand…bank。 At the
same time I wrote to Abou Saood； giving him notice of his responsibility
for the los