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