They had advanced through a narrow pass, and were now in a small flat surrounded apparently3 on all sides by hills. However, as Major Kitchener, the head of the intelligence department, and the native guides were there, every one supposed it was all right, and set to work to unload the camels. It was not such easy work as usual, for the ground was strewn with large stones, upon which the camels objected strongly to kneel. For a time there was a prodigious4 din1—the camels grumbling5 and complaining, the natives screaming, the soldiers laughing, shouting, and using strong language. At last the loads were all off, the stores piled, and the din quieted down.
"Where on earth is this water, Skinner?" Easton asked as the two young officers met after the work was done.
"I cannot make out, Easton. I hope it is not far, for my water-skin has leaked itself empty and my throat is like a furnace."
"I have some water in mine," Easton said, "but it tastes of leather so strongly that it is next to undrinkable. Oh, here is Clinton. Where is the water, Clinton?"
"By that rock at the end of the valley. I am just going to have a look at it. Can you come?"[Pg 184]
"Yes; there is nothing to do here at present."
They hurried towards the rock that Clinton pointed6 out, and when they reached it they still saw no signs of water, but on going round it burst into a shout of delight. Before them lay a pool some sixty feet wide by a hundred long. The rocks rose precipitously on each side; it was evident that the water was deep.
"There are two more pools further up," an officer who had got there before them said.
"Let us climb up and have a look," Clinton said; and with some difficulty they climbed up to the top of the rock. Going along for some little distance they looked down. Eighty feet below them lay two beautiful pools. They were evidently very deep, for at the edge the water was green, but nearly black in the centre of the pools.
"This is something like," Skinner said. "There is no fear of running short of water. Come on, let us clamber down and get a drink. Look there, at the rows of camels coming along to the lower pool. I suppose that will be kept for them, and that we shall get our water from these."
With a good deal of difficulty they got down, but were unable to reach the edge. However they tied a string round one of their water-bottles, and soon brought it up full. The water was deliciously clear and cool, the high rock completely sheltering the pools from the heat of the sun. They indulged in several long draughts7 before their thirst was satisfied.
"I shall never say anything against water again," Skinner remarked. "I have always allowed its utility for washing purposes, but have considered it a distinct failure as a drink. I recant. While considering that at home beer is good enough for me, I am prepared to maintain that, in the middle of the Bayuda Desert, clear cold water and plenty of it is good enough for anyone. But how in the world are we going to get at this water? Oh, here come the Engineers; they are going to do it somehow."[Pg 185]
AT THE WELLS OF GAKDUL.
AT THE WELLS OF GAKDUL.
[Pg 186]A party of Engineers arrived with some pumps and a hundred yards of hose.
"How are you going to take it down?"
"We are going to lead the hose right through the lower pool, letting it lie at the bottom. That is the only way we can do it. There is no way of fixing it against that wall of rocks."
The pumps were fixed8 in a very short time and the hose laid, and in less than an hour the stream of pure water was being poured into a large trough placed near the lower pool, and from this the cooks of the various companies filled their kettles and boilers9.
Some of the men, in spite of their long and fatiguing10 journey, had followed the example of the young officers and filled their water-bottles as they had done, but the majority had thrown themselves on the ground and were fast asleep a few minutes after the work of unloading the camels had been completed. For hours the work of watering the camels went on, slowly at first, as only a few could drink at a time, but more rapidly when large troughs were erected11, at which thirty could be watered at once.
As soon as dinner was over the Guards set to work to erect12 two forts that the Engineers had already marked out. One of these was at the mouth of the pass leading into the little valley, the other was placed just above the pools. The baggage was piled close to the wells. By evening the work was well advanced, and at eight o'clock the Mounted Infantry13 and the whole of the camels started on their return journey, leaving the Guards, with fifteen Engineers and six Hussars, to hold the wells and guard the great pile of stores that had been brought up. As soon as work was over there was a general movement to the wells, and there were few who did not indulge in the luxury of a bathe in the lower pool.
Rupert Clinton returned with the column to Korti, as General Stewart went back with them to bring out the main body of troops. It was calculated that ten days must elapse before these would arrive at Gakdul, and the Guards and Marines set to work in earnest the next morning to get things into order. The work was very heavy, but as the men had plenty to eat and no lack of excellent water they did not mind it, congratulating themselves heartily14 upon the fact that they had not to make the long and wearisome journey to Korti and back.
In the course of the ten days the walls of the forts rose to a height of over five feet—a very laborious15 piece of work, for one fort measured twenty yards by twenty-three; the other thirty yards by fifteen, and the stones had all to be picked up and carried considerable distances, or loosened out of the solid rock by aid of the six pickaxes and four crowbars that were alone available.
In addition to this the site of a camp was marked out, roads were formed by clearing away the stones, and paths made up to the forts and picket16 stations. The outpost duty was very severe, two officers and sixty-five men being always on duty, as it was possible that at any time, night or day, an attack might be made.
"This is awful!" Easton said to Skinner, as, sitting down on the ground, he mournfully contemplated17 his boots; "these boots that I relied upon to last me through the campaign are hopelessly done for."
"They do look bad," Skinner agreed, "but no worse than mine, or in fact than any one else's. These rocks are awful. If Nature had scattered18 ten million knives broadcast about this valley they could not have been more destructive to boots than these rocks. I used to think that, although the camels were well enough for taking up the baggage or as a means of conveyance19 for men, they were a mistake, and that it would be much pleasanter to march than to sit upon these wearisome beasts; but my opinion has been changed by our experience here. If we had to march many miles over such a country as this the whole force would be barefooted. I had a frightful20 job of it[Pg 187] last night. I went the rounds with the field-officer, and how it was I didn't break my neck I cannot imagine. I had a dozen tremendous croppers down the rocks. The lantern went out the first time, and got smashed the second. The major seemed to think that it was my duty to have kept it alight whatever happened to myself, and was as savage21 as a bear. We lost our way a dozen times, and once came up to a picket on the wrong side, and deuced near got potted."
"I know all about it," Easton said. "I did it three nights ago, and have no skin at present on my knees or my elbows or my hips22, and mighty23 little on my back. I went down one place fifty or sixty feet deep head-foremost, bumping from rock to rock, and it flashed through my mind as I did so what an ass2 I was to be going through all this when I might be comfortably in bed at home. They don't tell one of these things," he said plaintively25, "when they talk of the advantages of the army."
"Bosh!" Skinner said wrathfully. "I don't suppose you were a bit more hurt than you would be in a good close rally at football. It is a thousand times better after all than mooning about Windsor, or being mewed on board a ship at Suakim. However, I shall be precious glad when the others arrive, and we have done with this fatigue26 work. The men's hands are pretty well cut to pieces getting up and carrying those sharp rocks, and I am heartily tired of acting27 as a sort of amateur mason."
On the 11th of January a convoy28 of a thousand camels with stores and ammunition29 arrived, and the next day the troops were delighted at seeing the main body approaching. In addition to the Mounted Infantry and Heavy Camel Corps30, 400 men of the Sussex Regiment31 came up on the camels. They were intended to garrison32 the forts and protect the wells when the rest of the force moved forward, but a hundred of them were to go forward with the troops. With the new-comers were 30 sailors with a Gardner gun, 30 men of the Royal Artillery33[Pg 188] with three 7-pounder guns, 45 of the Medical and Commissariat Staff, and 120 native drivers for the baggage camels. As the Heavy Camel Regiment numbered 380 and the Guards 367, the Mounted Infantry 360, and there were 90 men of the 19th Hussars and 100 of the Sussex, the total force which was to advance was about 1500 men, 90 horses, and 2200 camels.
All the men with the exception of the natives, who were on foot, were mounted on camels, the Hussars of course excepted, as they rode sturdy little Egyptian horses, which, although little larger than ponies34, were capable of enduring an amount of fatigue, hardship, and privation, that would in the course of a few days have rendered English horses useless.
Those who had left Gakdul but ten days before were astonished at the change which the labours of the Guards' Camel Corps had effected in it, and great commendation was given them by the general for the zeal35 with which they had worked.
Large as was the number of animals to be watered, the work was conducted with far greater speed and ease than had been the case on their former arrival. The arrangements were all excellent, and in a comparatively short time the whole were watered and fed. The troops, however, were dismayed at the change which had come over the camels. These animals are capable of enduring great fatigue and scarcity36 of water and food, but the authorities had acted as if there were no limits whatever to those powers, and for a fortnight the camels had been kept at work with only three or four hours' rest out of each twenty-four, with a very scanty37 supply of food, and a sufficient allowance of water but twice, namely, at Gakdul and Korti. The natural result had followed: the animals were weak and exhausted38, the majority were suffering from sore backs, some had already succumbed39, others were absolutely incapable40 of further work until they had had a rest. In this respect none of the three corps had any advantage over the other, as the camels had all performed the three journeys.
"If we are only going to Metemmeh, and are to halt there[Pg 189] until the boats come round, the poor beasts will have time to recover before we want them again," Easton said to Skinner as they were looking ruefully at the condition of the camels who had carried them so well ten days before; "but they certainly won't be fit to advance for some time. I am afraid, Skinner, that they must have very bad news from Khartoum, and that every day is of extreme importance. If the matter hadn't been most urgent they would never have ruined the whole of our transport as they have done in this way. If the camels had had a couple of days' rest here before starting to go back again, and four or five days' good feeding at Korti before they started up again, it would have made all the difference in the world to them. A camel is not a steam-engine, that can take in fuel and water and be off again an hour after it comes in from a journey."
"I don't like these night marches," Skinner said. "I consider them to be a mistake altogether."
"So do I, Skinner. It was bad enough when we had the moon, but it will be ten times worse now. As to the heat, that is all rot. We travelled in the daytime coming up by the banks of the Nile, and it is cooler now than it was then. It is all very well for men to march at night if they have no animals or baggage-train with them, but it is a different thing altogether on such an expedition as this. To begin with, the delays from falling behind and readjusting baggage are far greater at night than at day; there is much greater difficulty in keeping the column together; the men are in a state of drowsiness41 the whole time, if they were marching they would keep awake, but sitting on the camels there is nothing to rouse them. Then when they get in camp the heat of the day has just begun, and what with that and the flies it is next to impossible to sleep. What sleep they get does not refresh them. I quite dread42 this march on to Metemmeh. However, it has got to be done; but certainly I should not mind it half so much if we were going to travel by daylight."[Pg 190]
It was soon known that there was to be no delay at Gakdul, and orders were issued that the start was to be made on the 13th; the intervening day being devoted43 to seeing to the arms and ammunition, issuing stores, and replenishing the water supply. The water-skins were extremely defective44, leaking freely, the only exception being the india-rubber bags with which the sailors had been supplied. Every effort was made during the halt to sew up holes and stop leaks, but with poor success. Each man carried on his camel one of these skins in addition to his water-bottle. Strict orders were given that upon the march he was to rely upon the latter alone; the supply in the skins being for general purposes, such as cooking and making tea.
During the halt Edgar applied45 himself steadily46 to the work of repairing the water-skins. The camp of the Heavies joined that of the Guards, and he felt that his danger of being recognized by Easton or Skinner was great; but sitting with a group of others sewing, with his face shaded by his helmet, the risk was very much less than if standing47 up or moving about the camp. At two o'clock in the afternoon the force paraded and moved off in columns of companies. The Heavy Camel Corps led, the Guards followed, the baggage and stores were in the centre, and the Mounted Infantry in the rear.
Many of the camels had to be left behind, and those that remained were only sufficient to carry the absolutely necessary stores, the rations48 for the men, and a quantity of corn that would suffice but to give two feeds of eight pounds each to the animals, who were, therefore, obliged to depend almost entirely49 on such sustenance50 as they could pluck from the mimosa shrubs51 and the dry yellow grass. The men carried a hundred and seventy rounds each. There were a hundred rounds per gun for the artillery, but only a thousand rounds were brought for the Gardner gun, a quantity sufficient but for five minutes' work when in action.
The journey was over a gravelly plain, and the halt was[Pg 191] made at six o'clock in the evening. Fires were lit of the shrubs and dry grass; the camels were unloaded and fed, and were ranged in such order that in case of attack the troops could form square at the angles of the mass, and thus support each other and protect the convoy.
At three in the morning the trumpets52 and bugles53 sounded. The fires were soon blazing again, and at half-past four breakfast had been eaten, the camels loaded, and the column on its march again. At ten o'clock there was a halt for two hours for dinner and a short rest; and it was not until just as they were going to start that the rear-guard arrived, having been delayed by the breaking down of numbers of the camels, many of which had fallen dead as they walked, while others incapable of movement had to be left behind to take their chance of recovering sufficiently54 to browse55 upon the bushes and make their way back to the wells. As the loads of those that fell had to be distributed among their already exhausted companions the prospect56 was far from cheerful.
Starting at twelve, the column passed a conical hill known as Gebel El Nur an hour later, and entered a broad valley covered with grass and trees twenty feet high, and where, doubtless, water could be obtained had the force been provided with little Abyssinian pumps. At five o'clock the column halted, and as the ground was sandy passed a more comfortable night than the one before. Every one was in good spirits. The men found the journeys by day far less fatiguing than those at night, and were able to obtain refreshing57 sleep in the cool night air.
Before daybreak they again started over a gravelly plain, hoping to reach the wells of Abu Klea that evening. They halted at eleven in a valley flanked by hills. The track, according to the maps, lay over a steep hill in front and then along a pass between two hills, the wells lying some three miles beyond the pass. Dinner was cooked, and as soon as they had finished their meal the Hussars started for the wells, as their horses had had no water since leaving Gakdul. The rest of the force were[Pg 192] stretched upon the ground taking it quietly when two of the Hussars returned at full gallop58 with a message to the general, and the order was immediately issued for the men to fall in and for the officers to examine their arms and ammunition. Then the news spread through the force that the enemy had been discovered in large numbers upon the hill, and were evidently prepared to bar the way to the wells.
The change effected by the news was wonderful. It had been generally supposed that Metemmeh would be reached without fighting, all the spies agreeing in saying that there was no force of the enemy near the line of march. In a moment fatigue and thirst were forgotten, and the quiet was exchanged for bustle59 and animation60. Men laughed and joked with each other in the highest spirits, and all prepared for the fray61 with the most absolute confidence as to the result. As the troops fell in the general with his staff galloped62 ahead to some rising ground, and with their field-glasses reconnoitred the hills surrounding the pass, upon which numbers of white-robed Arabs could be made out.
The Hussars speedily reported that there was a considerable force in the pass below. With the fighting men in front and the baggage behind, the troops moved slowly forward up the hill in front, and finally took up their position on a piece of flat ground whence they could see down the pass by which the Arabs expected the advance would be made. On the side of the hills commanding it they had thrown up small stone walls from which to fire. On the hilltops out of range large numbers of Arabs could be seen in constant motion, gesticulating and waving their arms. It was now four o'clock in the afternoon, and the general decided63 that as the real force of the enemy was unknown it would be imprudent to attempt to force the passage with only an hour and a half of daylight before him, consequently a halt for the night was ordered.
A strong detachment of Mounted Infantry and sailors with their Gardner ascended64 a hill on the other side of the pass and[Pg 193] set to work to build a small fort and mount the gun there. A company from each of the camel regiments65 extended to cover the front. The camels were all made to kneel, their legs being lashed24 at the knee so that they could not rise. This done, the whole of the troops were set to work to build a wall. There were, however, but few loose stones lying about, and though officers and men alike worked hard the wall in front was but two feet high when the sun went down. A hedge of thorny66 bushes and wire was raised to protect the flanks as much as possible.
As twilight67 fell a number of the enemy took possession of the top of a hill some twelve hundred yards away on the right and opened fire, to which the three guns of the artillery replied with shrapnel-shell. The guns ceased firing when darkness came on, but the enemy kept up an occasional fire all night. A drink of lime-juice and water was served out to all the men, who then lay down, with their arms in readiness to repel68 an attack, by the little wall. All night the enemy kept on beating tom-toms and occasionally yelling, approaching at times comparatively close to the position. Knowing, however, that the sentries69 were out in front, the men for the most part slept quietly in spite of the noise and firing. As the Arabs could fire only at random70 but two men were hit during the night.
In the morning it was found that the number of the enemy on the hilltops had largely increased during the night, and the bullets now flew incessantly71 round and over the inclosure. Lying under such shelter as the wall afforded, the men ate their breakfast of the tinned meat and biscuits they carried in their haversacks.
"I must admit, Skinner," Easton said to his comrade, who had come across from his own company to have a chat with him, "that this is more unpleasant than I had expected. This lying here listening to the angry hiss72 of the bullets is certainly trying; at least I own that I feel it so."
"It is nasty," Skinner agreed. "I sha'n't mind it as soon as[Pg 194] we go at the beggars, but this doing nothing is, as you say, trying. I wish they would make up their minds and come out to us, or if they cannot get up their pluck enough to do it, that we should sally out and attack them."
"You may be sure we shall before long, Skinner. They know well enough that we cannot stop here, but must move on to the water sooner or later; and knowing that, they would be fools if they were to give up their strong position to attack us here. At any rate I would rather be lying behind this wall than moving about as the general and his staff are doing. Major Dickson has just been shot through the knee, I hear. There! Look! there is another officer down. I wonder who he is. I do hope they won't pot Clinton."
A few minutes later an officer passing by told them that Major Gough of the Mounted Infantry had been knocked senseless by a bullet which had grazed his forehead, and that an officer of the artillery had been hit in the back.
"What do you think of it, sergeant73?" Edgar asked, as he and Sergeant Bowen were eating their breakfast together under shelter of the wall.
"I think that it is going to be a hot job, lad. If they had attacked us out in the plain we should have made short work of them, but it is a different thing altogether among these hills. The beggars can run three feet to our one, and if we were to climb one of these hills to attack them, they would be on the top of the next before we got there. I see nothing for it but to move straight for the wells, and let them do their worst as we go. It would be all right if we hadn't this tremendous train of camels; but if they come pouring down while we are on the march we shall have difficulty in protecting them all."
"I wish Rupert were lying here with us," Edgar said, looking anxiously at his brother, whose figure he could perceive among those near the general. "It is horrid74 lying here in safety while he is exposed to their bullets."[Pg 195]
"We must all take our chances," the sergeant said. "Maybe presently you will be in more danger than he is."
Half an hour later orders were issued that the men were to prepare for action, and it became known among the officers that the general had determined75 to leave a small garrison to protect the baggage and camels in the zareba, and to push forward with the rest of the force and capture the wells, and then send back and fetch in the camels and baggage. But the movement was delayed until ten o'clock in hopes that the enemy would attack. As they did not do so, orders were given, and the square formed up. The Guards' Camel Corps formed half the front of the square, and the right flank. The Mounted Infantry filled up the other half of the front, and half the left flank. The rest of the left flank and the rear were formed by the Heavy Camel Corps and the Naval76 Brigade; the hundred men of the Sussex taking the right rear corner between them and the Guards, while the Naval Brigade with their Gardner gun were in the centre of the rear line, between the troop of the 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards and that of the 1st and 2d Life Guards and Blues77.
In the centre behind the fighting line were two guns of the Royal Artillery, the other having been left in the zareba, while the centre of the square was filled with camels carrying water, ammunition, and cacolets or swinging beds for the carriage of the wounded.
The instant the square was formed and moved out the fire of the enemy redoubled. Swarms78 of natives appeared on the top of the hills, moving parallel with the advance of the square. The march was taken in slow time to allow the guns and camels to keep up. The ground was extremely difficult and broken, deep water-ruts and rocky hillocks having to be crossed, and the whole very undulating and broken.
Men fell fast, and frequent halts had to be made to enable the doctors to attend to the wounded, and place them in the cacolets. The front face and sides of the square advanced in[Pg 196] fair order, but there was much confusion in the rear face, caused by the lagging camels. Skirmishers were thrown out on either side, and these did their best to keep down the fire of the enemy. For an hour the square proceeded, and had nearly emerged from the pass on to the plain beyond, when a number of green and white flags were seen at some distance on the left front. As the firing had principally come from the right, and as it was from that side that an attack was expected, there was considerable curiosity as to the meaning of these seemingly deserted79 flags; and a small party were about to go out to investigate them, when a great number of other flags suddenly appeared at the same spot, and a moment later a vast mass of Arabs who had been concealed80 in a gulley sprang to their feet. (See plan on page 138.)
They were about five hundred yards distant from the square, which was at the moment halted at the foot of a stony81 knoll82. It was moved at once on to the rising ground, and the skirmishers were called in. The Arabs with wild yells moved across the left front, disappeared for a minute behind some rocks and high grass, and then reappeared close to the left rear, when they wheeled into line, and with wild yells charged down upon the square. So quick were their movements that the skirmishers had hardly time to reach the square, and one man was overtaken and speared before he reached it.
Several of the exhausted camels with their loads of wounded had been left outside, lying down at the foot of the slope when the square moved up it. Their native drivers rushed into shelter, and the wounded would have fallen into the hands of the enemy had not an officer of the Guards' Camel Corps and several privates of the Heavies rushed out, seized the camels, and by main force dragged them into the square. In the square itself there was a din of voices, the officers shouting to the men to stand steady and reserve their fire until the skirmishers, who were between them and the enemy, had run in. The instant they had done this a roar of mus[Pg 198][Pg 197]ketry broke out from the left and rear faces of the square, at first in volleys, then in independent fire as fast as the men could load; but though scores of the enemy fell, their rush was not checked for a moment, and with wild yells they fell upon the left corner of the square.
THE ARABS WITH WILD YELLS CHARGED UPON THE SQUARE.
"THE ARABS WITH WILD YELLS CHARGED UPON THE SQUARE."
The men were but two deep, and were unable to stand the pressure of the mass of the enemy, and in a moment the rear face of the square was driven in, and a hand-to-hand fight was going on between the soldiers, mixed up with the struggling camels and the Arabs. All order was for a time lost; the voices of the officers were drowned by the din of musketry, the yells of the Arabs, and the shouts of the men. Each man fought for himself; but their bayonets were no match for the long spears of the Arabs, and they were pressed back until the throng83 of camels pushed hard against the Guards in front of the square.
The rear ranks of the Mounted Infantry on the left and the Marines on the right were faced round, and opened a terrible fire into the crowded mass of natives, while the Heavies with bayonets and clubbed muskets84 fought singly, man to man, with their foes85. The combat did not last long. Mowed86 down by the fire on both flanks the assailants withered87 away, and it was not long before silence succeeded the terrible din of battle. In the interior of the square the last Arab of those who had pierced the square had fallen, and the fire of the outside faces of the square had prevented them from receiving any reinforcement from their friends, and these now fell back sullenly88 before the leaden hail. As soon as they had done so there was time to investigate what had taken place in the centre of the square.
A terrible sight presented itself. The ground was strewn with bodies of the natives, mingled89 with those of men of the corps that had formed the rear face of the square, the 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards, Naval Brigade, 1st and 2d Life Guards, and the Sussex. Among them lay camels which had been hamstrung or speared by the natives, broken cacolets, and water tanks and skins, medical stores, and a confusion of articles of all kinds.
Although forced back by the sheer weight of the native attack, the Heavies had never been completely broken up. They maintained their resistance to the end, jammed up as they were against and among the camels, and thus enabled the men on the two sides of the square to concentrate their fire on the Arabs.
A loud cheer had broken from the square as the enemy retreated, and they were prepared to resist another onslaught; for only a portion of their foes had yet been engaged with them. However, the enemy contented90 themselves with keeping up a distant fire from the hills, and then, doubtless as the news spread how terrible had been the loss of those who had charged the square, they gradually drew off and all became quiet. The square now moved off from the rocky knoll upon which they were crowded, and the work of seeing who had fallen and of assisting the wounded began. No less than nine officers had been killed and nine wounded, the greater portion of them belonging to the Heavy Camel Regiment. Two officers of the Naval Brigade were also among the killed. Eighty of the rank and file were killed, and upwards91 of a hundred wounded. Among the whites lay hundreds of dead Arabs, while arms of all sorts—spears, javelins92, muskets, clubs, hatchets94, swords, and knives, banners and banner-staffs—were everywhere scattered thickly.
Among the killed were Colonel Burnaby, Majors Gough, Carmichael, and Atherton, Captain Darley, and Lieutenants95 Law and Wolfe—all belonging to the Heavies.
To the survivors96 of those corps who had formed the rear face of the square, the scene they had gone through seemed a wild and confused dream. Sergeant Bowen and Edgar had been among those who rushed out and hauled in the camels with the wounded just before the Arabs came up. As they got them[Pg 199] inside the ranks the roar of fire broke out and they fell into their places. "Independent firing!" the officer shouted as the first volley had been discharged, but scarcely had the roll of musketry begun than through the smoke a dense97 mass of black figures appeared. A storm of spears and javelins were poured in upon them, and in an instant there was a crash as club, spear, and sword struck the muskets, and then the Heavies were hurled98 back.
Edgar scarce knew what had happened, but the instant the square was broken Sergeant Bowen threw himself beside him.
"Steady, lad, steady," he said, "don't throw away a shot; load and stand ready to shoot the first man who falls on you. That is good!" he said as Edgar shot a tall Arab who was rushing at him with uplifted spear; "load again. Now it is my turn," and he brought down a man; and so firing alternately, sometimes defending themselves with their bayonets, but always keeping together, they fell back. Once Edgar stumbled and fell over the body of one of his comrades, but the sergeant seized him by the shoulder and jerked him on to his feet again, and the next moment ran an Arab through who was rushing at them with uplifted hatchet93. When they were back among the crowd of camels the fighting became more even. Stubbornly the men made a stand here, for the natives could no longer attack them except in front, while the roar of fire from the troops on the flanks told with terrible effect upon the Arabs.
"Thank God that is over!" the sergeant said as the fight ended. "Are you badly hurt, lad?"
"I am not hurt at all," Edgar said.
The sergeant pointed to Edgar's left arm. The latter uttered an exclamation99 of surprise. He had bayoneted an Arab in the act of striking at him, and in the wild excitement had for the moment been unconscious that the blow of the native had taken effect. It had missed his shoulder, but had cut a deep gash100 in the arm, almost severing101 a strip of flesh down to the elbow.[Pg 200]
"I had not the least idea I had been touched," he said. "I don't think there is any great harm done; the principal arteries102 are on the other side of the arm."
"We must stop the bleeding, anyhow," the sergeant said. "I will soon find a bandage. There are sure to be plenty about, for the surgeons were at work when they broke in."
He was not long in finding one, and then assisting Edgar off with his coat he bandaged up his arm.
"You have got a wound on the side, sergeant!" Edgar exclaimed suddenly.
"It is of no consequence, lad. A fellow threw a spear at me. I tried to dodge103 it, but was not quite quick enough, and it has grazed my side."
"Well, give me your handkerchief. I will roll that and mine into a pad and shove it in, and put a bandage tightly round my waist to keep it there. That will do for the present.
"That will do nicely," he said as Edgar fastened the bandage round him. "Now we shall both do very well until the surgeons have time to tie us up properly. I am afraid they will have serious cases enough to last them all night. Now, what is the next move, I wonder? I am horribly thirsty."
"So am I," Edgar agreed.
"Are you both wounded?" an officer asked, coming up with two men carrying a water-skin.
"Then you can have a drink of water," the officer said. "There is little enough of it, and it is kept strictly106 for the wounded."
Many of the men standing near looked on with envious107 eyes, for all were suffering horribly from thirst. Several fainted, and the men's lips were black and swollen108, and in some cases the tongue swelled109 so that the mouth could not be closed. The 19th were out searching for the wells, but for[Pg 201] a long while their search was in vain. The general was about to give the word to retire to the zareba where there was a little water still left, when the Hussars fortunately hit upon the wells. The wounded who were unable to walk were at once carried there, and the troops followed and halted near them, and in a short time the thirst of all was satisfied. Although the water was not to be compared with that at Gakdul, being found in shallow pools one or two feet deep, and stirred up by the Arabs till it was almost of the consistency110 of thin cream, nevertheless it was water, and was enjoyable indeed.
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1
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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2
ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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7
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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8
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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9
boilers
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| 锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 ) | |
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10
fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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11
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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12
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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13
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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14
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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15
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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16
picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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17
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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18
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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19
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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20
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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21
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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22
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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23
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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24
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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25
plaintively
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| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
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26
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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27
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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28
convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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29
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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30
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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31
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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32
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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33
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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34
ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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35
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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36
scarcity
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| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
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37
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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38
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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39
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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40
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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41
drowsiness
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| n.睡意；嗜睡 | |
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42
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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43
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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44
defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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45
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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46
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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47
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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48
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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49
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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50
sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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51
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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52
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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53
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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54
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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55
browse
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| vi.随意翻阅，浏览；(牛、羊等)吃草 | |
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56
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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57
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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58
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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59
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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60
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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61
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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62
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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63
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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64
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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66
thorny
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| adj.多刺的，棘手的 | |
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67
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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68
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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69
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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70
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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71
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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72
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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73
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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74
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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75
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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76
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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77
blues
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| n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐 | |
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78
swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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79
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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80
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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81
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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82
knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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83
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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84
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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85
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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86
mowed
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| v.刈，割( mow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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88
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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89
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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90
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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91
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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92
javelins
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| n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 ) | |
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93
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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94
hatchets
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| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
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95
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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96
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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97
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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98
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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99
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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100
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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101
severing
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的现在分词 )；断，裂 | |
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102
arteries
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| n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道 | |
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103
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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104
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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105
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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106
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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107
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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108
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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109
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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110
consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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