approaching with their numerous flags； to salute me according to the
usual custom。
Seven large silk crimson flags upon tall staffs headed with lance
points； and ornamented with balls of black ostrich feathers； marked the
intervals of the advancing line of ruffians。
They were about 270 strong； and； they formed a line in very open order；
exactly facing the government troops； at about forty yards' distance。
Two principal officers； Wat…el…Mek and the celebrated Ali Hussein； were
exceedingly busy running up and down the line； and forming their men； so
as to make the greatest display of force。 Wat…el…Mek was dressed in
bright yellow with loose flowing trousers。 Ali Hussein was in a
snow…white long robe with black trousers。 The officers were
distinguished by clean clothes； but the men were clad in various
costumes； generally formed of tanned leather。
By way of complimenting me； they had brought out two LARGE CASES OF
AMMUNITIONeach a load for a native！
These boxes were placed with a guard beneath a tree。 My wife； who had
as usual come to watch the proceedings； now begged me to dismount； as
she had noticed the cases of cartridges； and she feared I might be
treacherously shot。
Of course I remained on horseback until the company had completed their
arrangements。 They now stood in position with their officers in their
respective places； but no one moved forward。
I could not believe that they would have the audacity to attack the
government troops； but having waited for some time face to face； without
the slightest 〃salaam〃 having been made by the officers of Abou Saood； I
ordered Major Abdullah to retire to the camp with his troops； and to
disperse。
I then requested him to send for Wat…el…Mek； as I wished to speak with
him immediately。
With much patience； I waited within the station for about half an hour；
during which time； five different officers had gone to call Wat…el…Mek；
and each had returned with a message that 〃he would come presently。〃
At length； two of his people； who had in my absence insulted and
threatened to attack Major Abdullah； arrived in the camp with a message
〃that both the vakeels WERE SICK。〃 I ordered these men to be detained。
I could no longer stand this insolence； as I at once understood that
they refused to appear。 Accordingly； I instructed Major Abdullah to go
himself with a few soldiers； and should Wat…el…Mek refuse to obey my
order to accompany him； he should put him under arrest。
The bugle summoned the men who had dispersed； and they immediately
formed two deep in a small open space within the camp； to receive
instructions。 At this time； Lieutenant Baker volunteered to go and speak
to Wal…el…Mek； who would （he thought） be more likely to listen to him
than to Major Abdullah； who had so frequently been insulted by the
slave…hunters during my absence。
I agreed that it would be advisable； at the same time he must be
accompanied by some troops。 I therefore began to address the men who
were standing before me； and I instructed them to obey Lieutenant Baker
implicitly； and upon no account to
My instructions were interrupted by a volley of musketry concentrated
upon the mass of scarlet uniforms！
Without the slightest provocation we were thus treacherously attacked；
and heavy file…firing continued upon the station。 The bullets were
whistling through the straw huts； and seven of my men； including Molodi；
were struck within a few seconds。
My wife； who was always ready in any emergency； rushed out of her hut
with my rifle and belt。
The soldiers had already commenced firing by the time that I was armed
and had reached the front； by the edge of the light fence of wattles。
I now observed the enemy about ninety yards distant； many of them were
kneeling on the ground and firing； but immediately after taking a shot；
they retired behind the huts to reload。 In this manner they were keeping
up a hot fire。
I perceived a man in white upper garments； but with black trousers： this
fellow knelt and fired。 I immediately took a shot at him with the
〃Dutchman。〃
We should have lost many men if this hiding behind huts and popping from
cover had been allowed to continue。 I therefore called my 〃Forty
Thieves〃 together； and ordered the bugler to sound the charge with the
bayonet。
Pushing through the narrow wicket gateway； I formed some thirty or forty
men in line and led them at full speed with fixed bayonets against the
enemy。
Although the slave…hunters had primed themselves well with araki and
merissa before they had screwed up courage to attack the troops； they
were not quite up to standing before a bayonet charge。 The 〃Forty
Thieves〃 were awkward customers； and in a quarter of a minute they were
amongst them。
The enemy were regularly crumpled up！ and had they not taken to flight；
they would have been bayoneted to a man。
I now saw Wat…el…Mek in his unmistakable yellow suit； he was marching
alone across a road about 180 yards distant。
He was crossing to my right； and I imagined； as he was alone； that he
intended to screen himself behind the houses； and then surrender。
To my surprise； I observed that when he recognized me； he at once raised
his gun and took a steady aim。
I was at that moment reloading； but I was ready the instant that he had
fired and missed me。
He now walked towards a hut across to my right。 I allowed about half a
foot before him for his pace； and the 〃Dutchman〃 had a word to say。
The bullet struck his right hand； taking the middle finger off at the
root； and then striking the gun in the middle of the lock plate； it cut
it completely in halves as though it had been divided by a blow with an
axe。 He was almost immediately taken prisoner。 One of 〃The Forty〃
（Seroor） was so enraged that he was with difficulty prevented from
finishing Wat…el…Mek with a bayonet thrust。
I now ordered a general advance at the double； and the troops spread out
through the extensive town of huts； which occupied about thirty acres。
As we ran through the town； I observed about 150 of the enemy had
rallied around their flags； and were retreating quickly； but steadily；
in the direction of the Shooa hill。 They continued to turn and fire from
the rear of their party。
Having reduced the distance to about 150 yards； the crimson silk banners
afforded excellent marks for rifle practice。 They fell to the right and
left； as the shots were directed a little low so as to hit the bearers。
In a few minutes not a flag was to be seen！ The fatal sniders poured
bullets into the dense body of men； who； after waving two and fro as the
shots thinned their number； at length ran off without any further effort
to maintain a formation。
For upwards of four miles Lieutenant Baker and I chased these ruffians
with the 〃Forty Thieves〃。 Many were killed in the pursuit； and upon our
return to the camp at Fatiko at 2 P。M。； we had captured a herd of 306
cattle； 130 slaves； 15 donkeys； 43 prisoners； 7 flags； together with the
entire station。
The enemy had suffered the loss of more than half their party killed。
The actual fighting had been done by the 〃Forty Thieves〃； and the men of
Abdullah's detachment had behaved disgracefully。 Instead of following
the enemy in the retreat； they had fraternized with a crowd of natives
in pillaging the extensive station。
I now had to clear all these fellows out。 The officers appeared to have
quite lost their heads； and the natives had carried off all the guns and
ammunition from the dead men； and had sacked and plundered the powder
magazine。
My wife had placed sentries on the high rocks which commanded a view of
the entire country； she also had the cattle driven within the fence； and
had secured the prisoners； including Wat…el…Mek； in two large huts； over
which she had placed a guard。 The officers bad been so completely
bewildered by the suddenness of the affair； that their wits had been
exercised in an extraordinary direction。 They had commenced firing
Hale's rockets while we were in advance pursuing the enemy； and a couple
of these screeching projectiles had actually passed over my head。
We had neither eaten nor drunk since the preceding evening； with the
exception of some water that we had procured from a stream at the
extreme limit of the pursuit； where we had lost the enemy； who had
scattered in the forest。
With her usual forethought； my wife had ordered the cook to have
breakfast ready； and having washed hands and faces； we sat down to a
good curry of mutton； and excellent cafe…au…lait； the milk having been
obtained from the captured cows。
We had worked fairly that morning； having marched ten miles from Sharga；
then fought the rebels and run four miles in pursuit； and four miles on
our return； through an exceedingly rough country。
My old friends； Gimoro and Shooli； were delighted to see us again。 The
native sheiks thronged round the entrance of our hut to congratulate us
on the defeat of the rebels； and messengers had been already sent off to
Rot Jarma and all the principal headmen of the country。
Wat…el…Mek was safe。 I knew that most of the principal officers were
either killed or wounded； but I was anxious to be assured of the fate of
the arch…ruffian； Ali Hussein。
〃Where is Ali Hussein？〃 I asked the natives。
〃DEAD！〃 cried a number of voices。
〃Are you certain？〃 I asked。
〃We will bring you his head； for he is not far off；〃 they replied； and
several men started immediately。
We were very hungry； and as curry is quickly eaten； we were not long at
breakfast； this was hardly concluded when some natives rushed to the
open door； and throwing something heavy on the floor of the hut； I saw
at my feet the bloody head of Ali Hussein！
There was no mistake in the person。 The villainous expression was as
strongly marked upon the features in death as it had been in life。
The natives had appropriated his clothes； which they described as 〃a
long white robe and black trousers。〃 Ali Hussein had been struck by two
bullets； one had broken his arm； and the other had passed through his
thigh。 He was alive when the natives discovered him； but as he had been
the scourge of the country； he； of course； received no mercy from