按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
position； crouched low on the ground behind the most convenient cover。
Unfortunately； the natives； who were on the high ground on our right
flank as we faced about； perceived the snare； and endeavoured to give
the alarm by blowing upon their whistles of antelope's horn。
This was either misunderstood； or unheeded by the enemy in our rear； who
quickly made their appearance。
I had ordered my men to reserve their fire； and not to expend any
ammunition until the command should be given。 The natives on our right
flank now passed forward； which would bring them in our rear。 At the
same time； those in our front appeared in very loose and open order；
evidently looking for us in all directions。
I observed a man painted red； like a stick of sealing…wax； with large
ivory bracelets upon his arms。 This fellow was in advance； and he
ascended a small ant…hill to obtain a better view。
A puff of smoke and the sharp crack of a rifle startled the enemy； as
the red sheik rolled over。 The yells increased on all sides； the
whistles of the antelopes' horns now sounded a shrill alarm； during
which the leading Baris shot off their arrows； but they fell short。
Another quick shot cracked upon the body of a native； who was caught in
the arms of his comrades and dragged away as they precipitately
retreated in all directions from the dangerous locality。
My men now begged me to allow them to charge and to capture the man； who
was endeavouring to escape。 I gave them leave； and a body of fifteen
dashed out in pursuit； with loud yells； after the retreating natives。
For about a minute the natives faced them and shot their arrows； but the
gallant fifteen coolly knelt upon the clear ground； and taking steady
rests upon their knees； opened a fire that drove the enemy before them。
The fifteen immediately charged forward and bayoneted a fugitive； and
returned with his bow and arrows in triumph。
The enemy had quickly the worst of it。 They were now standing in all
directions at distances varying from 400 to 1；000 paces。 Many of them
were actually in our rear； but I noticed that these fellows were already
opening to the right and left； as though they faltered in their
determination to resist our retreat to the vessels。
The Baris would not stand in the open ground before the sniders。
The ground was dry and dusty； thus each bullet marked its bit as the
puff of dust rose from the earth； like a jet of smoke。
Some of the enemy were knocked over at very long ranges； others were so
scared by the close practice； as the bullets either struck the ground at
their feet； or pinged close to their ears； that they cleared off as
quickly as possible。 Their noisy drums had ceased； and suddenly I
perceived a general skedaddle； as those upon our right flank started off
in full speed； shouting and yelling to alarm the rest。 I now
distinguished a body of troops hurrying at the double down the hill…side
in the distance。 These were commanded by an active Soudani officer
（lieutenant） who had been in Mexico under Marshal Bazaine。 He had heard
the firing as he was returning with his day's collection of corn to the
vessels； he had therefore dropped the corn； and hurried on with his
party to our support。
I ordered the bugler to sound the retreat： and having joined forces； we
marched without further opposition。
We reached the diahbeeah and my little camp about half an hour after
dark。
CHAPTER XII。
VESSELS RETURN TO KHARTOUM。
ON 6th November； 1871； Lieutenant Baker returned from Gondokoro with
four noggurs； and the entire detachment of Lieutenant…Colonel Achmet。
The news was as follows：…
After the departure of Major Abdullah； the natives had attacked the camp
of Colonel Achmet； and had wounded him in the back with a barbed arrow；
which had to be cut out。 Another arrow had passed through the heart of
his servant； killing him on the spot。 Several soldiers had been wounded；
but not seriously。 The corn had been delivered from his station to the
magazines at Gondokoro。
On 3rd November； thirty vessels had left Gondokoro for Khartoum； taking
about 1；100 people； including children； women； sailors； soldiers； and
invalids。
In spite of my positive orders； that none but the really sick should be
sent to Khartoum； Raouf Bey had in my absence sent away great numbers of
troops who were in sound health； thus reducing the entire force of the
expedition to 502 officers and men； including buglers； drummers； clerks；
&c。； exclusive of fifty…two sailors。
Thus an expedition that should have comprised 1；645 men was reduced to
so insignificant a force； that it appeared impossible to proceed into
the interior。 The Baris were at war with us； the slave…hunters'
companies were treacherous； and yet I was to suppress the slave trade；
and annex the equatorial districts with less than one…third of the force
required。
Abou Saood had apparently gained his point； and the expedition was
paralyzed。 It was considered that with so small a force I could not
travel far from headquarters： thus as my term of service would expire on
1st April 1873； I had only one year and four months remaining； and in
this short time it would be impossible to accomplish my object。
In the dreadful state of the river we could not speculate upon the
arrival of reinforcements from Khartoum。 Our cuttings and canals in the
Dalir Giraffe might have closed up； or they might have improved： of this
we were ignorant。
I had sent off my letters to England； also those to the Khedive；
complaining of the conspiracy of the officers； and inclosing the
documents。 At the same time I had impressed upon his Highness the
imperative necessity of opening the channel of the great White Nile
without delay。＇*＇
＇*Footnote： His Highness lost no time in sending the necessary orders
for the clearing of the main channel of the White Nile to the governor
of the Soudan。 This energetic officer； Ismail Ayoob Pacha； worked with a
large force during two consecutive years and restored the river to its
original charactercompleting the work after I had returned to England；
but before the arrival of my successor。 Colonel Gordon was thus enabled
to make use of the six powerful steamers which I had sent up from Cairo
to Khartoum； and the expedition continued without hindrance。＇
I had written to Djiaffer Pacha for reinforcements ＇*＇ to be sent
from Khartoum immediately； together with a large supply of dhurra。
＇*Footnote： These reinforcements were thirteen months actually on the
river from Khartoum to Gondokoro； and they only arrived at the close
of the expedition。）
I had very little hope of receiving anything from the Soudan。 It was
therefore necessary to make my arrangements for the future；
independently of all extraneous assistance。 With 502 officers and men；
and fifty…two armed sailors； I had to accomplish the work。
The force at present with me consisted of 251 officers and men； thus I
had exactly half of the troops。 Gondokoro was well fortified； and the
Belinian had been thoroughly cowed； therefore I had nothing to fear in
that quarter。
I had more than filled one of the great magazines with corn： therefore；
including the dhurra no