Energetic and exhilarating exercise has sometimes the effect of driving away sickness which doctors’ stuff and treatment fail to cope with successfully. In saying this we intend no slight either to doctors’ stuff or treatment!
After the troops had been some time at Suakim the effect of the climate began to tell on them so severely2 that a very large proportion of Europeans were in hospital, and many who strove hard to brave it out were scarcely fit for duty.
Great heat did not, however, interfere3 with Miles Milton’s health. He was one of those fortunates who seem to have been made of tougher clay than the average of humanity. But his friend Armstrong was laid up for a considerable time. Even Robert Macleod was knocked over for a brief period, and the lively Corporal Flynn succumbed4 at last. Moses Pyne, however, stood the test of hard work and bad climate well, and so, for a time, did Sergeant5 Hardy6. It was found generally that the abstainers from strong drink suffered less from bad health and unwholesome surroundings than their fellows, and as there were a good many in the regiment7, who were constantly endeavouring to convince their comrades of the advantages of total-abstinence, things were not so bad as they might have been.
It was about this time that one of the generals who visited Suakim instituted athletic1 games, thereby8 vastly improving the health and spirits of the men. And now Miles Milton learned, for the first time, what an immense power there lies in “scientific training!”
One evening, when out walking with Stevenson, he took it into his head to race with him, and, having been a crack runner at school, he beat him easily.
“Why, Miles,” said his friend, when the short race was over, “I had no idea you could run so well. If you choose I will put you in training for the coming sports. You must know that I have run and walked and competed in the track many a time at home, and have trained and brought out runners who had no notion of what was in them till I proved it to them by training. Will you go in for it, and promise to do as I bid you?”
“I have no objection,” replied Miles, with a light laugh.
If he had known what his friend intended to do he might not have agreed so readily, for, from that hour till the day of the sports, Stevenson made him go through an amount of running—even after being made stiff by previous runs—that he would never have agreed to undertake unless forced to do so. We say forced, because our hero regarded a promise once given as sacred. His was a curiously9 compound nature, so that while in some points of conduct he was lax—as we have seen—in others he was very strict. He was peculiarly so in regard to promises. His comrades soon came to know this, and ultimately came to consider him a very reliable man.
Having, then, promised his friend to keep sternly to his work, he did so, with the result that his strength increased wonderfully. Another result was that he carried off the first prize in all the races.
In order to make the most of time and avoid the evils of noonday heat, it was arranged that the races, etcetera, for the Egyptian soldiers and natives in Government employ should come off in the morning, and that the British troops should run in the later and cooler parts of the day. With the temperature at 120 degrees in the shade it would have been dangerous for Europeans to compete. The sports, including our familiar cricket, were greatly enjoyed, and the result was a decided10 improvement in the health of the whole force.
Boat-races were also included in these sports. At the conclusion of one of these, Miles, to his great surprise, encountered his old acquaintance of the Sailors’ Welcome, big Jack11 Molloy.
“Why, Jack!” exclaimed Miles, as the hearty12 tar13 wrung14 his hand, “who’d have expected to see you here?”
“Ah, who indeed? an’ I may say ditto.”
“I’m very glad to see you, Molloy, for, to say truth, I thought I had seen the last of you when we parted in the troop-ship. I’ve often thought of you since, and of our first evening together in the—the—what was its name?”
“The Sailors’ Welcome—man alive! I wonder you’ve forgot it. Blessin’s on it! I ain’t likely to forget it. Why, it was there, (did I ever tell you?) the wery night arter I met you, that a messmate took me to the big hall, back o’ the readin’-room. It’s no use me tryin’ fur to tell you all I heard in that there big hall, but when I come out—blow’d if I didn’t sign the pledge right away, an’ I ain’t took a drop o’ grog since!”
“Glad to hear it, Jack, for, to say truth, I never saw the evil of grog so clearly as I have since coming out here and seeing strong stout15 men cast down by it in dozens,—many of them kind-hearted, right-thinking men, whom I would have thought safe from such a thing. Indeed I have more than half a mind to join the Good Templars myself.”
“Young man,” said Molloy, sternly, “if it takes the death of dozens o’ stout kind-hearted men to force you to make up half your mind, how many d’ee want to die before you make up the whole of it?”
“But I said that my mind was more than half made up,” returned Miles, with a smile.
“Now lookee here,” rejoined the sailor earnestly, “it’s all wery well for milksops an’ nincompoops and landlubbers to go in for half-an’-half work like that, but you’re not the man I takes you for if you ain’t game for more than that, so I ax you to promise me that you’ll sign the pledge right off, as I did, first time you gits the chance.”
“But you forget I’m only a landlubber who, according to you, is fit for only half-an-half measures,” said Miles, who, not being addicted16 to much wine, felt disinclined to bind17 himself.
“No matter,” returned the sailor, with deepening earnestness, “if you go in fur it you’ll never repent18 it! Take my word for that. Now, I ax ye to promise.”
“Well, I do promise—the very first time I get the chance; and that will be to-morrow night, for our new parson has started temperance meetings, and he is a great teetotaller.”
“An’ you promise to stick to it?” added Molloy.
“When I give a promise I always stick to it!” returned Miles gravely.
The foregoing conversation took place at the harbour, a little apart from the noisy group of soldiers and sailors who were discussing the circumstances of the recent boat-race.
Immediately after it Molloy returned to his ship in the harbour, and our hero to his post in the line of defence.
One of those who had been conspicuous20 that day in arranging and starting the races, acting21 as umpire at the cricket, and, generally, putting heart and spirit into everything by his quiet good-nature and self-denying activity, was the young officer of Engineers, who has been already mentioned as the manager of the mines that were laid around Suakim. Poor fellow! little did he imagine that that was to be his last day on earth!
Every morning, as before mentioned, this young officer went out alone to perform the dangerous work of disconnecting the mines, so that the inhabitants of the town might go out and in and move about during the day-time in safety. Again, a little before sunset every evening, he went out and reconnected them, so that the enemy could not approach the place without the risk of being blown to pieces. At the same time the gates were closed, and no one was allowed to leave or enter the town.
On this particular evening the lieutenant22 went out as usual on his dangerous mission just after six o’clock. He had not been long gone when a loud explosion was heard, and a cloud of smoke was seen where one of the mines had been laid down. A party at once sallied out, and found, as they had feared, that the brave young fellow had perished. He had been literally23 blown to pieces, his head being found in one place, while other portions of his body were scattered24 around.
This melancholy25 incident cast a gloom over the whole place. The remains26 of the heroic young engineer were buried next day with military honours. The garrison27 was not, however, left long in peace to think over his sad fate, for the very next night a determined28 attack was made all along the line. The annoying persistency29 of these attacks seemed to have stirred the indignation of the general in command, for he ordered out a small force of cavalry30 to carry the war into the enemy’s country.
Critics say that this act was ill advised, and that the cavalry should not have been despatched without the support of infantry31. Critics are not always or necessarily right. Indeed, we may venture to say that they are often wrong! We do not pretend to judge, but, be this as it may, the cavalry was ordered to destroy the village of Handoub about fifteen miles inland on the caravan32 route to Berber, and to blow up the enemy’s magazine there.
The force consisted of a troop of the 19th Hussars, and another of Egyptian cavalry—about fifty men all told—under command of Captain Apthorp. Our intemperate33 friend Johnson was one of the little band. He was sober then, however, as he sat bolt upright on his powerful steed, with a very stern and grave visage, for he had a strong impression that the duty before them was no child’s-play.
A four hours’ ride brought them to the village. The few Arabs who dwelt in it fled at once on their approach, and in a very short time the place was effectually destroyed, along with a large quantity of ammunition34.
But no sooner had the soldiers finished the work, and begun to prepare for their return, than they discovered that a large force of the enemy was assembling to cut off their retreat.
No time for thought after that! At least six thousand of the foe35, having heard of the expedition, had crept down through the thick bush from the direction of Hasheen, thirsting for vengeance36. Two miles on the Suakim side of Handoub they formed a line and opened fire on the leading cavalry scouts37.
Seeing that the Arabs were in such force, Captain Apthorp at once made for their flank, in the direction of the sea-coast. At full speed, with horses fatigued38 by a fifteen miles’ journey, they had to ride for life. It was neck or nothing now! The Egyptian cavalry, under Captain Gregorie, and accompanied by Captain Stopford of the Grenadier Guards and other officers, followed closely.
As they went along at racing39 speed, with more than a dozen miles of wilderness40 to traverse, and death behind them, Private King of the Hussars fell from his horse wounded. Captain Gregorie came up with him, stopped, and took the wounded man up behind him. It was a generous but desperate act, for what could be expected of a double-weighted horse in such a region and with such a race before it?
For about half a mile he carried the wounded trooper, who then swooned and fell off, dragging the captain along with him, the freed horse rejoining its troop, while the Arabs came yelling on not a hundred and fifty yards behind.
There would have been but little chance for Captain Gregorie at that terrible crisis if self-denying courage equal to his own had not dwelt in the breast of Private Baker41 of the Hussars. Seeing what had occurred, this hero coolly rode back, took the captain up behind him, (see frontispiece,) and, regaining42 his troop, enabled the latter to capture and remount his own steed. Of course poor King—whether dead or alive they could not tell—had to be left to his fate.
Heroism43 would seem to feed upon itself and multiply, for this same Private Baker, soon afterwards, saw two more troopers, and shouted to a comrade to turn back with him to their rescue. The comrade, however, did not see his way to do so. Perchance he did not hear! Anyhow he galloped44 on, but Captain Gregorie hearing the summons, at once answered it, turned, and galloped back with Baker.
They were only just in time to take up and rescue the two men. At the same time Captain Stopford performed a similar gallant45 act in rescuing a dismounted trooper.
It is deeds of self-sacrifice and heroism such as these—not the storming of a breach46, or the fighting against overwhelming odds—that bring out the noblest qualities of our soldiers, and arouse the admiration47 of mankind!
The race for life was so close run that when the force at last reached the sea-shore it was little more than sixty yards in advance of the foe, and so exhausted48 were the horses that eight of them fell, and their riders were captured—four being Englishmen and four Egyptians. It is right to add that one of the Egyptians also displayed conspicuous courage in rescuing a comrade.
While these stirring incidents were taking place on the plain, Miles and some of his comrades were seated on the roof of the redoubt, looking out anxiously for the return of the cavalry. At last, in the afternoon, a cloud of dust was seen on the horizon, and the officers who had glasses could soon make out that the men appeared to be racing towards the town at full speed, while the enemy, on camels and horses, and on foot, were racing down to the sea to cut off their retreat. No sooner was this understood than our men rose with an uncontrollable burst, seized their rifles, flung on ammunition-belts, and rushed out to the rescue, regardless for the moment of the officers shouting to them to come back. The news spread like wildfire, and the men ran out just as they were—some in white jackets, some in red, others in blue; many in their shirts, with their sleeves rolled up; cavalry, artillery49, marines, infantry—all going helter-skelter towards the enemy. Fortunately they saw from the ships what was going on, and quickly got their guns to bear, so that the moment our men had escaped clear of the enemy they opened fire. But for this more men would certainly have been lost, for the overtaxed horses were beginning to give in and lose ground. Had they been a few minutes later in reaching the sea, it is probable that not a man of that force would have returned to Suakim.
As it was, the men came in pale and terribly fatigued. The horses could scarcely walk, and two of them died on the following day.
Note.—Since the foregoing was written, we have learned, with profound regret, that the gallant Captain Gregorie was killed by his horse falling with him in 1886.
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1
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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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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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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flipper
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| n. 鳍状肢，潜水用橡皮制鳍状肢 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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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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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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persistency
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| n. 坚持(余辉, 时间常数) | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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intemperate
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| adj.无节制的，放纵的 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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40
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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41
baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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42
regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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43
heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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44
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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45
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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46
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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47
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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48
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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49
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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