第 106 节
作者:
巴乔的中场 更新:2021-02-20 18:12 字数:9322
against unseen enemies。
Upon arrival at a stream in a muddy bottom; we were immediately attacked
by a strong force in ambuscade。 Some of the enemy exposed themselves
boldly; and rushed upon the soldiers just in front of the rear…guard。
Several were shot by the sniders; but one fellow; with unusual pluck;
speared a soldier whose musket had missed fire; through the chest。 This
poor fellow; thus mortally wounded; grappled with his assailant; and
tugging the spear from his own wound; he drove it through the native's
heart。
The rear bugle sounded 〃halt;〃 while the knapsack and cartouche…belt
were detached from the gallant soldier; whose body was left by the side
of his enemy。
We marched until 10。15 A。M。; having fought nearly the whole way; and
expended a frightful amount of ammunition。 We had now arrived at our old
halting…place; Chorobeze twenty…seven miles from Masindi。
My men had become so extravagant of their cartridges that I was forced
to interfere。 If this nervousness should continue; we should be soon
left without ammunition; and every soul would be massacred。
I therefore mustered the troops; and examined all their pouches。 Some of
the advance…guard had fired away eighty rounds each; only during the
morning's march!
Many had fired fifty rounds! The muskets had not used so many; owing to
the greater difficulty of loading; but they also had been frightfully
extravagant。
The men had come to the conclusion that the only plan of marching in
safety through the high grass; which was full of unseen enemies; was to
constitute themselves into a sort of infernal machine; that would be
perpetually emitting fire and bullets on all sides。
This was all very well with an unlimited supply of ammunition; but we
had no idea of what might still be in store for us。 We were now slightly
more than fifty miles from Foweera。 Fortunately; in our journey from the
river to Masindi; I had timed every march within five minutes; and I had
all particulars in my note…book; therefore I could guess the position
pretty closely during the morning's advance。
Having mustered all the men; I turned out all the ammunition from their
pouches。 The cartridges were counted。
I examined all the reserve ammunition。
The total; including that from the men's cartouche…boxes; was cartridges
for snider rifles 4;540 and cartridges for muskets 4;330; making a total
of 8;870 rounds。
I now addressed the men; and abused them most forcibly; calling them
〃old women;〃 and several other uncomplimentary epithets for soldiers。 I
divided among them forty rounds each; and I swore solemnly by their
prophet; 〃that I would not give them another cartridge from this spot
(Chorobeze) until we should reach Major Abdullah's detachment at
Fatiko。〃
I explained that if any man should fire away his ammunition; he should
continue the march with an empty pouchWah Illahi! Illahi !
I gave the most positive command; that in future not a shot should be
fired without orders; unless spears actually were thrown; on which
occasions the troops would fire a few shots exactly into the spot from
which the weapons had arrived; but on no account was a bullet to be
fired at random。
I dismissed the men with this warning; and set them to work to construct
a night defence as usual。
It was a most fortunate peculiarity of the Unyoros that they did not
attack at night…time。 This was a grievous fault upon their side。 If they
had surrounded us every night; they would have kept us awake; and not
only would have tired the men out; but they would have caused a useless
expenditure of ammunition。
On 17th of June; we started at 6。15 A。M。; with the intention of reaching
Koki。 I recognized several villages; but we passed them without halting。
We at length arrived at a fine; broad route; that was sufficiently wide
for a dog…cart。 This had evidently been recently prepared; and there
could be no doubt that it was arranged as a snare that would lead us
into some powerful ambuscade。 At the same time; the compass showed that
the broad path led in the right direction。
I halted the force; and went to the front to examine the road。 There was
no other path。 It was therefore incumbent upon us to keep to the broad
route; although we knew that it must lead us to a trap prepared for our
destruction。
It was like walking upon ice that was known to be unsafe。 We advanced。
For about half an hour we marched without opposition。 This was a longer
interval than usual to be free from an attack。 At length we arrived
where the broad road suddenly terminated。 The advance…guard halted。
We searched for a path; and at length discovered the original narrow
route a few paces to our left。
This had been purposely concealed by grass and boughs。
We had hardly entered this path when we were suddenly attacked。 A
horsekeeper was wounded by a spear; which passed through his leg; behind
the knee; and cut the sinew; thus rendering him helpless。 He was
immediately placed upon a donkey。 The unfortunate lad who led the horse
a few paces before me now uttered a wild shriek; as a spear passed
completely through his body。 The poor boy crept to me on his hands and
knees; and asked; 〃Shall I creep into the grass; Pacha?…where shall I
go?〃 He had not another minute to live。
A spear struck another horsekeeper on the hip; and the soft iron point
turned up against the bone in a curve like a fish…hook。
A sharp fire dispersed the enemy; who retired to a distance; yelling
and blowing their whistles。 The wounded horsekeeper could manage to walk
forward。
There is a peculiar bird in the forests of Unyoro which utters a shrill
cry; with these notes。
The natives imitate this cry with their whistles of antelope's horn。 I
had noticed that previous to an attack from an ambuscade; we had always
heard the call of this bird。
My Baris declared that the bird warned us of the danger; and cried;
〃Co…co…me! Co…co…me!〃 which in their language means; 〃Look out! look
out!〃
My soldiers said that the birds exclaimed; 〃Shat…mo…koor! Shat…mo…koor!〃
which is the order; 〃Make ready;〃 They accordingly always brought their
rifles on full cock when they heard the signal。
There was something puzzling this day respecting the distance。 According
to my calculation; we should leave reached Koki。 Still we marched on
through high forest and the interminable grass。 My wife was dreadfully
fatigued。 The constant marching in wet boots; which became filled with
sand when crossing the small streams and wading through muddy hollows;
had made her terribly foot…sore。 She walked on with pain and difficulty。
I was sure that we had passed the village of Koki; which was surrounded
by much open ground and cultivation; and I now felt certain that the
broad road; which had been constructed to mislead us; had taken us by
the rear of Koki; which we had thus over…shot。
We were marching forward in perfect silence; when I heard a bird cry
〃Co…co…me! Co…co…me〃!
That instant the spears came among us; and the rifles replied as quick
as lightning!
The bugle of the advance…guard sounded 〃halt〃。 I never liked to hear
that order; as something must have gone wrong。
I immediately walked forward; and found that Lieutenant Mohammed
Mustapha had been wounded。 The spear had struck him just behind the
shoulderjoint of the left arm; and had passed over the blade…bone and
spine previous to making its exit by the right arm。 This was a very
nasty wound; and he was bleeding profusely。 I made a couple of pads;
and; placing one upon each hole; we bandaged him tightly。
I now went up to my poor old horse; 〃Zafteer〃。 The unfortunate animal
was carrying a heavy load; and a large hunting spear had struck him just
behind the saddle。 The weapon was so sharp and heavy; and had been
thrown with such force; that it had penetrated a double blanket; and had
not only passed clean through the horse's body; but had also cut through
a blanket…fold upon the other side。
A large portion of the bowels protruded; and were hanging a foot below
the horse's belly。 The intestines were divided; thus death was certain。
As the old horse could still walk; and did not know its own danger; I
ordered the advance。 I intended to halt at the first convenient point。
In about a quarter of an hour we saw increased light in the distance;
and we presently emerged upon a large open vale surrounded by forest。
This cheerful space extended over about ten acres; in the centre of
which was a well of good water; about fourteen feet deep; and so wide
that a man could descend by steps hewn out of the gravel。 This was a
grand place for the halt。
My first duty was to remove the load; together with the saddle; from my
good old horse。 I returned the bowels; and having placed a strong pad
over the wounds; I passed the roller round his body; and buckled it
tight over the pads。
This operation was hardly completed; when a severe shivering fit seized
the poor animal; and he fell to the ground to die。
With great sorrow I placed my pistol to the forehead of the faithful old
Zafteer; and he died; having carried and laid down his load; together
with his life; at the end of the day's march。
I was much d