It was nearly two o’clock in the afternoon when Captain Lacey and his company resumed their place in the square.
About that time an officer of the Berkshire Regiment1 represented the condition of his men as requiring attention. They certainly did require it, for they had been without food since four o’clock that morning, and were consequently in urgent need of provender2 as well as rest and water—the last having been all consumed.
As it was imperative3 that the work should go on, it was found necessary to serve out food by wings.
Accordingly, the men of one half-battalion received rations5 and water, and were then sent to their zereba with the Gardner guns, while the other half, still lying in reserve by their piled arms, received their rations.
The marines also sat down for brief rest and refreshment7. Among them was our sedate8 friend Stevenson, who invariably carried his small Bible with him in all his campaigns. After quickly consuming his allowance, and while waiting for water, he sat down to read a few verses of the 23rd Psalm,—for Stevenson was one of those quiet, fearless men who cannot be laughed out of doing right, and who have no fear of the face of man, whether scowling9 in anger or sneering10 in contempt.
“Hallo, Tom!” said a light-hearted comrade near him, “this is a queer time to be readin’ your Bible. We’ll be havin’ you sayin’ your prayers next!”
“I’ve said them already, Fred,” replied the marine6, replacing the book in his pouch12. “As you say, it is a queer time to be readin’ the Word, but not an unsuitable time, for this may be the last chance that you and I will ever have of readin’ it. Our next orders may be to meet God face to face.”
Stevenson was yet speaking when a Lancer was seen approaching at a wild gallop13. He dashed up to the generals and informed them that the enemy was gathering14 in front.
The message was barely delivered when another Lancer rode up and reported the enemy close at hand.
The order, “Stand to your arms!” was promptly15 given and as promptly obeyed, without flurry or disorder16.
Next minute a wild uproar17 was heard, and the Lancers were seen galloping18 towards the square with thousands of the swarthy warriors19 of the desert at their heels—nay, even mixed up with them!
On they came, a dark, frantic20, yelling host, with irresistible21 fury, and, perchance, patriotism22! Shall we deny to those men what we claim for ourselves—love of hearth23 and home, of country, of freedom? Can we not sympathise with men who groaned24 under an insolent25 and tyrannical yoke26, and who, failing to understand or appreciate the purity of the motives27 by which we British were actuated, could see nothing in us except the supporters of their enemies?
They hurled29 themselves on that part of the large zereba which was defended by the Bengal Native Infantry30. These fired a volley, but failed to check the impetuous rush. Everything went down before the savages31, and the Native Infantry broke and fled, throwing into dire32 confusion the transport animals which stood in their immediate33 rear.
General McNeill himself dashed in among the panic-stricken men and sought to arrest them. He succeeded for a time in rallying some of them in Number 1 zereba, but another rush of the Arabs sent them flying a second time, and some of the enemy got into the square, it is said, to the number of 112. The Berkshire men, however, stood fast, and not a soul who got into that square ever got out of it alive. In this wretched affair the 17th Bengal Native Infantry lost their brave commander. He was killed while trying to rally them.
The confusion was now increased by the enemy driving the baggage-animals hither and thither34, especially on to another half-battalion square of the Berkshire Regiment. Here, however, they were effectually checked. As the Atlantic billows burst in impotent turmoil35 on the cliffs of Cornwall, so the enemy fell upon and were hurled back by the steadfast36 Berkshire Regiment, which scarcely lost a man, while over two hundred of their opponents lay dead around them.
The Bombay Regiment also stood fast, and redeemed37, to some extent, the credit of their country; while the Sikhs, as might have been expected of them, never flinched38 for a moment, but strewed39 the plain around them with dead and dying men.
There was horrible carnage for some time—unflinching valour being opposed to desperate courage; and while a burning sense of injury, with a resolve to conquer or die, was the motive28 power, no doubt, on one side, on the other there was the high sense of duty to Queen and country, and the pride of historical renown40.
Owing to the suddenness of the attack, and the occupation of the troops at the moment, there was some mixing up of men of different regiments41. One company of Sikhs, who were helping42 to unload the camels when the fight began, having been prevented from joining their own regiment, cast in their lot with the marines. The better to help their European comrades these vigorous fellows leaped outside the zereba and lay down in front of it, and the two bodies together gave the charging foe43 such a warm reception that they never got within twenty yards of them.
But there was a fearful scene of butchery among the baggage-animals, and many unequal hand-to-hand conflicts. There was terrible slaughter44 also among the working parties that had gone out to cut bushes with which to finish the zerebas, with coats off and away from their arms. Some individuals of the marines, who, as a body, suffered severely45, were surrounded by a dozen Arabs, and their bodies were afterwards found covered with spear-wounds. This was the case with a sergeant46 named Mitchel, who had charge of a wood-cutting party and had been quietly chatting with our friend Stevenson just before the attack. Another case was that of Private Stanton, who had been through the Egyptian campaign of 1882, had fought at Kassassin, Tel-el-Kebir, El-Teb, and Tamai. When this expedition of which we write was arranged, he was one of the first to volunteer. He chanced to be outside the zereba when the attack was made, and failed to appear at muster47. Next day he was found dead, with many spear-wounds, at some distance from the force. Poor fellow! he had not been killed outright48, and had attempted to crawl towards the zerebas, but in his confusion had crept away in the wrong direction, and had slowly bled to death on the sands of the desert.
During the rapid progress of this terrible scene of bloodshed, Miles and his friend Armstrong stood and fought shoulder to shoulder in the front rank at their allotted49 corner of the square—chiefly with bullet, but also, on several occasions, with bayonet, when the rush of the enemy threatened to break through all barriers, and drive in the line of defenders50. They would certainly have succeeded, had these defenders been less powerful and resolute51.
The latter glanced round. It was the voice of his friend Jack53 Molloy, who helped to work the Gardner gun, and who was at the moment admiring the daring act of an officer of Sikhs.
Two men of the Berkshire Regiment, who had been employed outside the zereba, were pursued by several Arabs, and it was evident that their death was almost certain, when the Sikh officer referred to rushed out to the rescue, sprang between the men and their pursuers, killed three of the latter in succession with three rapid sword-cuts, and enabled the soldiers to escape, besides which, he checked the rush at that part of the square, and returned to his post in safety.
The cheer of the Berkshire men and others who witnessed this feat54 was heard to rise above even the yells of combatants, the shrieks55 of the wounded, the rattle56 and crash of fire-arms, and the general turmoil and din4 of war.
In one of the working parties that were out when the assault began was our friend Moses Pyne and his comrade Rattling57 Bill Simkin. These had been separated from the rest of their party when the first wild rush was made by the foe. The formation of the ground favoured their dropping into a place of concealment58, thus for the moment saving them from the fate of being surrounded and cut to pieces, like too many of their straggling comrades. For a few seconds they lay close while the enemy rushed past like a torrent59, to the assault just described.
“Simkin,” he said, as his comrade also got up, “I’m not goin’ to lie hidin’ here while our boys are engaged wi’ the savages.”
“No more am I, Moses,” returned Rattling Bill, with something of the jovially62 reckless air still lingering on his solemnised visage. “But we’ve not much chance of getting back to the zerebas without arms.”
“What d’ee call that?” asked Moses, holding out his chopper.
“A very good weapon to fight the bush with,” answered Simkin, “but not worth much against Arab spears. However, comrade, choppers are all we have got, so we must make the most of ’em. They say a good workman can work with any tools. What d’ee propose to try? I’ll put myself under your orders, Moses; for, although you are a meekish sort of a fellow, I really believe you have a better headpiece than most of us.”
“I propose that we simply go at ’em,” said Moses. “Take ’em in rear, cut our way through, and get into the zereba—that’s all. It don’t take much of a headpiece to think that out.”
“Go ahead, then! I’ll back you,” said Rattling Bill, without the least touch of bravado63, as he bared his right arm to the shoulder. Both men were in shirts and trousers, with sleeves tucked up and their brawny64 arms exposed—Arabesquely brown up to the elbow, and infantinely white above that!
The intended rush might have been successful, but for a change in the tactics of the enemy. Seeing that they were severely repulsed65 at the corner of the square, where Molloy and his tars66 worked the Gardner gun, while Miles and his comrades plied11 bullet and bayonet, the Arab chief sent a body of his followers67 to reinforce this point. It was just at the moment that Moses and Simkin made the dash from their place of concealment, so that they actually leaped, without having intended it, into the very midst of the reinforcements!
Two of the Arabs went down before the choppers instantly, and the others—almost panic-stricken by the suddenness and severity of the assault—turned to fly, supposing, no doubt, that an ambush68 had caught them. But seeing only two men they ran back, and would certainly have made short work of them if rescuers had not come up.
And at this point in the fight there was exhibited a curious instance of the power of friendship to render steady men reckless. The incident we have just described was witnessed by the troops, for, the moment the two soldiers left their place of concealment they were in full view of the large zereba.
“That’s Moses!” exclaimed Armstrong excitedly.
Without a moment’s hesitation69 he sprang over the defence-works and ran to the rescue, clubbing his rifle as he went and felling two Arabs therewith.
“You shan’t die alone, Willie!” muttered our hero, as he also leaped the fence and followed his friend, just in time to save him from three Arabs who made at him simultaneously70. Two of these Miles knocked down; his comrade felled the other. Then they turned back to back; Moses and Simkin did the same, and thus formed a little impromptu71 rallying square. This delayed the catastrophe72, which seemed, however, inevitable73. The brave little quartette, being surrounded by foes74, could do nothing but parry with almost lightning speed the spear-thrusts that were made at them continually.
Seeing this, the heart of Jack Molloy bounded within him, and friendship for the moment overcame the sense of duty.
“You can only die once, Jack!” he exclaimed, drew his cutlass, leaped out of the zereba, and went at the foe with a thunderous roar, which, for a moment, actually made them quail75.
Infected with a similar spirit, Stevenson, the marine, also lost his head, if we may say so. Resolving to run a-muck for friendship’s sake, he followed the sailor, and increased the rallying square to five, while Molloy skirmished round it, parrying spear-thrusts, at once with left arm and cutlass, in quite a miraculous76 manner, roaring all the time like an infuriated lion, and causing the enemy to give back in horror wherever he made a rush.
A root, however, tripped him up at last, and he fell forward headlong to the ground. A dozen spears were pointed77 at his broad back, when a tall majestic78 Arab sprang forward and held up one hand, while with the other he waved a sword.
At that moment a strong force of the enemy came down with an impetuous rush on that corner of the zereba, and, coming between it and the little knot of combatants, hid them from view.
The attack at this point was very determined79, and for a few moments the issue seemed doubtful, for although the enemy fell in heaps they came on in such numbers that the defenders were almost overwhelmed. Steadiness, however, combined with indomitable courage, prevailed. Everywhere they were repulsed with tremendous loss. Many instances of personal bravery occurred, of course, besides those we have described, but we may not pause to enumerate80 these. Tenacity81 of life, also, was curiously82 exhibited in the case of some of the desperately83 wounded.
One man in charge of two mules84 outside the zereba was trying to bring them in when he was attacked, and received three terrible spear-wounds in the back and one in the arm, which cut all the muscles and sinews. Yet this man ultimately recovered, though, of course, with the loss of his arm.
Another man lost a leg and an arm, and was badly wounded in the other leg and in the hand, and, lastly, he was shot in the jaw85. After being operated on, and having his wounds dressed, the doctor asked him how he felt.
“All right, sir,” he answered. “They’ve crippled me in arms and legs, and they’ve broke my jaw, but, thank God, they have not broke my heart yet!”
It was eight minutes to three when the Arabs made their first rush, and it was just ten minutes past three when the enemy was finally repelled86 and the bugle87 sounded “Cease firing.” Yet into these pregnant eighteen minutes all that we have described, and a vast deal more, was crowded. Nearly four hundred of our men were killed and wounded, while the enemy, it is believed, lost over two thousand.
It is said by those who were present at the engagement that the officers of the 17th Bengal Infantry were heard to say that if their men had not given way, there would have been no “disaster” at all, and General McNeill instead of being accused of permitting himself to be surprised, would have got credit for a heroic defence against overwhelming odds88. If he had carried out his instructions, and pressed on to the end of eight miles, instead of prudently89 halting when he did, there can be no doubt that the force would have been surprised and absolutely cut to pieces.
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1
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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provender
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| n.刍草；秣料 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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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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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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sedate
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| adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的 | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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13
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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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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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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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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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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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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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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53
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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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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jovially
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| adv.愉快地，高兴地 | |
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bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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tars
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| 焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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74
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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75
quail
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| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
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miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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enumerate
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| v.列举，计算，枚举，数 | |
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81
tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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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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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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84
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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85
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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86
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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87
bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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