第 100 节
作者:巴乔的中场      更新:2021-02-20 18:12      字数:9322
  the missing Monsoor and Ferritch had fired their rifles。
  Every arrangement having been rapidly carried out; the boys and a few
  men continued to fire the houses on our right flank; and giving the
  order to advance; our party of sixteen rushed forward into the town。
  The right and left flanks were now blazing; and the flames were roaring
  before the wind。 I heard the rattling fire of the sniders under Ferritch
  Agha on our left; and knowing that both flanks were now thoroughly
  secured by the conflagration; we dashed straight for Kabba Rega's
  principal residences and court; driving the enemy before us。 Colonel
  Abd…el…Kader was an excellent officer in action。 We quickly surrounded
  Kabba Rega's premises; and set fire to the enormous straw buildings on
  all sides。
  If he had been at home he would have had a warm reception; but the young
  coward had fled with all his women before the action had commenced;
  together with the magic bamba or throne; and the sacred drum。
  In a few minutes the conflagration was terrific; as the great court of
  Kabba Rega blazed in flames seventy or eighty feet high; which the wind
  drove in vivid forks into the thatch of the adjacent houses。
  We now followed the enemy throughout the town; and the sniders told with
  sensible effect wherever they made a stand。 The blue lights continued
  the work; the roar of flames and the dense volumes of smoke; mingled
  with the continued rattle of musketry; and the savage yells of the
  natives; swept forward with the breeze; and the capital of Unyoro was a
  fair sample of the infernal regions。
  The natives were driven out of the town; but the high grass was swarming
  with many thousands; who; in the neighbourhood of the station; still
  advanced to attack the soldiers。
  I now ordered 〃The Forty〃 to clear the grass; and a steady fire of
  snider rifles soon purged the covert upon which the enemy had relied。
  In about an hour and a quarter the battle of Masindi was won。 Not a
  house remained of the lately extensive town。 A vast open space of smoke
  and black ashes; with flames flickering in some places where the
  buildings had been consumed; and at others forked sheets of fire where
  the fuel was still undestroyed; were the only remains of the capital of
  Unyoro。
  The enemy had fled。 Their drums and horns; lately so noisy; were now
  silent。
  I ordered the bugle to sound 〃cease firing。〃 We marched through the
  scorching streets to our station; where I found my wife in deep
  distress。
  The bugle sounded the assembly; and the men mustered; and fell in for
  the roll…call。 Four men were missing。
  Lying on the turf; close to the fort wall; were four bodies arranged in
  a row and covered with cloths。
  The soldiers gathered round them as I approached。 The cloths were
  raised。
  My eyes rested on the pale features of my ever faithful and devoted
  officer; Monsoor! There was a sad expression of pain on his face。 I
  could not help feeling his pulse; but there was no hope; this was still。
  I laid his arm gently by his side; and pressed his hand for the last
  time; for I loved Monsoor as a true friend。
  His body was pierced with thirty…two lance wounds; thus he had fought
  gallantly to the last; and he had died like a good soldier; but he was
  treacherously murdered instead of dying on a fair battle…field。
  Poor Ferritch Baggara was lying next to him; with two lance wounds
  through the chest。
  The other bodies were those of the choush that had fallen by my side;
  and the soldier who had been shot on the parapet。
  We were all deeply distressed at the death of poor Monsoor。 There never
  was a more thoroughly unselfish and excellent man。 He was always kind to
  the boys; and would share even a scanty meal in hard times with either
  friend or stranger。 He was the lamb in peace; and the lion in moments of
  danger。 I owed him a debt of gratitude; for although I was the general;
  and he had been only a corporal when he first joined the expedition; he
  had watched over my safety like a brother。 I should 〃never see his like
  again。〃
  Monsoor was the only Christian; excepting the European party。
  The graves were made。 I gave out new cloth from the stores in which to
  wrap the bodies of four of my best men; and they were buried near the
  fort。
  My heart was very heavy。 God knows I had worked with the best intentions
  for the benefit of the country; and this was the lamentable result。 My
  best men were treacherously murdered。 We had narrowly escaped a general
  massacre。 We had won the battle; and Masindi was swept from the earth。
  What next?
  I find these words; which I extract from my journal; as they were
  written at that moment:…
  〃Thus ended the battle of Masindi; caused by the horrible treachery of
  the natives。 Had I not been quick in sounding the bugle and immediately
  assuming a vigorous offensive; we should have been overwhelmed by
  numbers。
  〃Since we have been in this country; my men have been models of virtue;
  nothing has been stolen; except a few potatoes on one occasion; when the
  thief was publicly punished; and the potatoes restored to the owner;
  neither have the natives been interfered with in any manner。 I have
  driven the slave…hunters from their country; and my troops from Fatiko
  are ordered to restore to Unyoro all the slaves that have been stolen by
  the traders。 The disgusting ingratitude and treachery of the negro
  surpasses imagination。
  〃What is to become of these countries? all my good…will brings forth
  evil deeds。〃
  In the battle of Masindi nothing could have exceeded the cool;
  soldier…like bearing of both officers and men。 Every man had done his
  duty。 In the first onset; when about seven or eight thousand natives had
  suddenly attacked the station; the men had not only fallen into position
  for the defence of the camp with extraordinary alacrity; but they had
  behaved with extreme steadiness and coolness; and not a man had moved
  from his post without orders。
  The attacking parties; formed exclusively of the 〃Forty Thieves;〃 had
  exhibited an activity and elan for which this gallant little corps was
  eminently distinguished; and had they been European troops; their
  conduct upon this occasion; against such overwhelming odds; would have
  covered them with glory。
  We had no newspaper correspondents; therefore I must give the due praise
  to my officers and men。
  During the day I established patrols throughout the now cleared space
  lately occupied by the town。
  In the afternoon Umbogo was able to call some natives who were within
  earshot。 These men explained that the chief; Matonse; was the cause of
  the outbreak; and that it was his people who; by his orders; had killed
  Monsoor and Ferritch。
  Umbogo had been set at liberty during the fight; but I now secured him
  by the neck to a leathern thong in the hand of a sentry; for; although a
  good man; I could not afford to lose him; and the devil might have
  tempted him to run away。
  In the afternoon some natives cried out that Kittakara was coming; and
  Lieutenant…Colonel Abd…el…Kader; with a few men; immediately went out to
  meet him。
  Kittakara would not approach within less than about a hundred yards; but
  he assured Abd…el…Kader that the outbreak was not the fault of Kabba
  Rega; but that the responsibility lay with Matonse; who had escaped; and
  that he should be captured and delivered up to me。
  He continued to assure Abd…el…Kader that Kabba Rega had already ordered
  provisions and a large number of elephants' tusks to be collected for
  us; and that; although for the present he was hiding through fear in the
  high grass; he would quickly rebuild his divan close to my own; so as to
  live in friendship。
  It was impossible to credit one syllable in Unyoro。 On the other hand;
  should I be unable to bring the enemy to terms; I should be chained to
  the spot; as it would be impossible to transport my baggage。
  It was an awkward position。 The treachery had been frightful; and I
  could only attribute it to Kabba Rega's orders; in spite of the
  protestations of Kittakara。 If I should be right in my suspicions; what
  would become of Major Abdullah and his detachment?
  Nothing would be easier for the 300 natives who had accompanied my
  people with the post; than to behave well on the route to Fatiko; in
  order to establish confidence。 They could then carry all the effects and
  ammunition; in company with Abdullah and his troops; from Fatiko to
  Unyoro; and in the prairie wilderness; they might murder every man at
  night when asleep; and possess themselves of the arms; ammunition; and
  effects; with which they would rejoin Kabba Rega。
  This was a frightful idea; and there could be no doubt that such
  treachery had been planned; if Kabba Rega were guilty of the attempt to
  poison the troops and attack us by surprise。 It was hard to disbelieve
  his guilt。
  There were no means possible of communication with Abdullah。 In case of
  necessity; there was only one move; this was to march to the Victoria
  Nile; and form an alliance with Rionga; the old enemy of Kamrasi's
  family; whom I had always refused to attack。 I was sure that he must
  have heard of my refusal to ally myself with Kabba Rega against him:
  thus he would be favourable to the government。
  I resolv