A MARCH INTO THE DESERT
"And so you have been behaving like a young hero?" said Tom Dixon, on
the following morning, surveying Jim as he rose from his blanket. "You
were tired out, so I allowed you to sleep on undisturbed while Ali and I
had a long chat. Seriously, though, old chap, you have done nobly, and
have again risen high in the estimation of our following. After this
they will do anything for you, and will be just as keen as you are to
bring the expedition to a successful issue. But tell me about the fight.
I can only get a garbled account from Ali, who tells me that you
defeated the whole tribe, and caused them enormous loss. But that cannot
be the case. He must have been romancing, though I am bound to confess
that we heard very heavy firing, which might easily have accounted for
large numbers of killed and wounded."
"Ali Kumar was quite right," replied Jim quietly. "We did defeat the
whole lot of the tribesmen, and I believe they will only be too glad to
leave us alone in the future. You see, it was like this----"
Then Jim set to work to give his companion the details, leaving out his
own share in the matter, for he was not a boastful lad.
"And now tell me how things went with you," he continued. "I was so done
up when we got back to the zareba last night that I felt I could not
listen. It was sufficient for me to find that you were safe, and that
you had lost none of the beasts or baggage."
"We did not even see an enemy," said Tom with disgust. "Though we kept a
very bright look-out, and even on one occasion blazed into the darkness,
thinking that the sheik and his men were upon us, not a soul really came
near the place. But we heard the firing from the gorge, and it made me
feel so anxious that I very nearly came up to join you. If it hadn't
been that our safety depends to such an extent upon our camels and
food-supply, I should certainly have done so, and you would not have
blamed me, for it is clear that you had a desperate time of it. However,
all's well that ends well. And now for our next move. Will you go ahead,
or will you retire for a time, till this fight has blown over?"
"I shall push on without a pause," answered Jim. "You see, news of this
row is certain to fly to the Mullah's ears, and if we were to retire he
would prevent any attempt in the future, by setting a watch at the
ravine, and forbidding us to pass through. Then we should have to wait
till the troops come this way, and by then anything may have happened to
father. No, I mean to go right on, and my first act will be to ride to
the camp from which these tribesmen came, and order them to give me any
news they may have. Then I shall tell them that they are to keep quiet
about their fight with us, or we will punish them on our return. Of
course it will be a piece of bounce on my part, but now is the time to
practise that sort of thing."
"You are right not to allow this quarrel to frighten you," answered Tom
heartily, "and I think it quite likely that you may get important
information from our enemies. Then, too, now is the time to take
advantage of your victory. While the tribesmen are humbled, you will get
more from them than at any other time, for they will hope to allay your
anger by helping you. But we shall never be able to trust them, and from
this moment our precautions against surprise at night must be doubled."
Long did Jim and his friend talk the matter over, and then Tom went to
one of the bales which was carried upon the back of a camel, and,
opening it, produced a bundle of surgical dressings and a few
instruments. With these and a tin pannikin of cool water he proceeded to
dress Jim's wound, and ended by placing the arm in a sling.
"There," he said, when he had finished, "you bore it like a Briton, and
will soon be well. Luckily it is only a flesh-wound. Had the slug struck
the bone on its way through, it might have been a case of amputation,
and then where would have been your expedition? And now, if you feel
capable of the exertion, we shall break up the camp and get through the
pass. Best do it now, before the sheik and his following pluck up their
courage again."
Accordingly, the zareba was soon astir, and the men bustling about their
animals. Then, with a dozen of the best shots riding well in advance,
and the remainder hovering in rear and on the flanks, the column set out
for the pass, and went trailing up the steep slope of the hill. In due
time they entered the ravine. Here they found but few traces of the
conflict, for the tribesmen had taken advantage of the permission
extended to them, and had removed their dead.
An hour later they were in the plain, and that night they halted at some
wells distant about ten miles. Here Ali Kumar came to Jim to announce
that a messenger wished to have speech with him.
"He comes from the tribe who suffered defeat at our hands," he said,
"and has news of importance."
"Bring him along, then," said Jim, "and tell off a man to keep an eye
upon him. He might become unpleasant."
A few moments later Ali ushered forward a native, whose head-gear
proclaimed him to be one of the tribe who had received such a defeat on
the previous evening. Coming up to Jim, he salaamed deeply and most
humbly, and even trembled, so great was his fear.
"What do you want?" asked Jim sharply, Tom interpreting his words. "Have
you been told to ask for mercy from us?"
"That is the case," answered the man. "The sheik bade me come hither and
say that he regrets deeply that his men attacked you, and that they
would never have done so had it not been for the words of one who was in
your service, and who has now fled. He asks for forgiveness, and will
promise never to molest you again."
"That is not enough," replied Jim sternly. "Why should we not march on
his camp and loot it?"
"We are in your hands," the man said trembling; "but if you will
overlook our fault, we shall give you news which will help you."
"What is it, then?"
"The man who betrayed you told us that you were in search of a white
prisoner of the Mullah's. I am charged to tell you that he is now some
thirty miles to the south of the Hoad, and that if you press through,
you may rescue him, for many of the fighting men are away."
"Can we trust the fellow?" asked Jim doubtfully, turning to Tom.
"Perhaps it is a trap, into which they hope we shall walk blindly."
"I hardly think so, old chap. You have given these beggars such a
licking that they are in terror of their lives, and I believe they are
telling you the truth. I should instruct him to say to the sheik that
you will harm him no further at present, but that if you find he has
been playing with you, you will punish him on your return."
"That is good advice, Tom, and I'll leave it to you to speak to him.
Then let us talk over the preparations to be made before entering upon
this desert march."
Accordingly, Tom repeated his words to the tribesman, warning him in
stern tones that the slightest treachery would be severely punished.
"Now return to your sheik," he continued, "and be careful that in future
you remain peaceful, for the British troops will be this way before very
long, and will treat you far more severely than we have done, unless you
can prove that you are friendly."
With many salaams and repeated thanks, the man withdrew; and then Tom
and Jim called Ali Kumar to join them in consultation.
"The question of water seems to me to be the most important," said Jim,
opening the conversation. "How are we to contrive to carry sufficient to
last for one hundred and fifty miles?"
"We'll ask Ali," replied Tom. "You see, I've never been in this part
before, and, though I have done a deal of spying in Aden, I've never
joined in one of these expeditions. This is, in fact, all strange to
me."
"I have crossed the Hoad on several occasions, master," interposed Ali,
"and can give you my help. Once beyond the desert, I can do nothing, for
I shall then be in strange country. Indeed, no caravan has ever
penetrated so far, for the land beyond belongs to the Mullah. As to
water, you have tanks with you, which should prove sufficient. But a
guard must be set upon their contents, and the allowance for man and
beast strictly dealt out. Again, five days is said to be the shortest
time in which the march can be accomplished, but I think that we shall
do well to press on more hastily. The camels are all in the best of
condition, and can well stand the fatigue. Then again, the following and
baggage are comparatively small, so that our movements should be
correspondingly rapid. When we reach the other side, we can rest for a
time, while we send out scouts to gather news."
"Excellent!" exclaimed Jim. "And now, when should we start?"
"I vote that we march on at once to the very edge of the desert," said
Tom. "If we find wells there, we can fill our tanks, and get a good
start."
"Bohotle is an advance post held by troops in the pay of the Sirkal,"
remarked Ali Kumar, "and it is situated on the fringe of the sandy waste
which stretches into the interior up to the pasture country ruled over
by the Mullah. There is water in plenty there, and also at a spot
directly before us. I therefore counsel you to keep straight on. Seven
hours' marching will bring you to the place of which I speak, and then
all preparations can be made for the crossing."
Following the advice given by the native headman, Jim at once gave
orders for the camp to be broken up, and by nightfall had the
satisfaction of finding himself amidst a clump of palms and mimosa,
which marked the position of the wells, and from which one looked out
directly upon a wide-spreading sea of sand, a dreary waste, which went
on and on to the horizon without a break, and without so much as a patch
of green to relieve it. And here, as the caravan halted, and the men
began to make a zareba, Jim had the pleasure of watching the most
gorgeous sunset he had ever seen.
"It is a wonderful sight," said Tom, as he stood by his side. "It seems
as if these parts, where nature appears to come to a sudden end, were
given something out of the way to make up for their loss; for the sun
rises and falls over the desert with such beautiful effect, that people
who have travelled the world over declare it is the finest sight of all.
Then, too, mirages are not infrequent, though what is their cause is
more than I can say. But come along. Watching that beautiful sky does
not relieve one's hunger, and I can tell you I am sharp set."
Returning to their camp, Jim and his friend were soon seated in front of
a fire of thorn-wood, which blazed and crackled brightly, sending out a
heat which was grateful, for the nights at this season of the year were
decidedly cold. A native follower then appeared with a pan and some fat,
and ten minutes later Jim was busily frying some juicy slices of meat
cut from a deer which Tom had shot during the day. When they were
finished to his satisfaction, Jim removed them to a plate by means of a
fork, which, with a spoon and a knife, he carried in the form of an
ordinary pocket-knife, as every sensible campaigner does. Meanwhile Tom
had had the tea in hand, and before many minutes had passed both were
seated at an excellent repast, which they enjoyed all the more for the
fact that it was partaken of while squatting upon the bare earth, and
from dishes and mugs of common enamelled tin.
"And now for bed," said Jim, two hours later, when Tom had finished his
smoke and they had had a chat. "Let us hope for a fine day, and a good
start."
"And luck on the other side, old chap. Good-night. It's my first watch.
Turn in now, and I'll wake you in good time."
Soon the camp was hushed in sleep, save for the crisp, low sound of a
sandalled foot plodding up and down upon the sand. A few hours later the
sentries were relieved, and Jim took his turn, it having been arranged
that he and Tom, together with Ali Kumar, should help one another to
keep an eye upon their following during the hours of darkness.
Early on the following day the camp was astir, and an hour later they
set out upon their long and hazardous march. Four days of hot and tiring
work took them in safety to the farther side, where, worn out with their
exertions, they formed a zareba, and called a long halt, to rest both
animals and men. And now began the most difficult and dangerous part of
Jim's undertaking.
"Thirty miles from here the Mullah and his men are said to be encamped,"
he remarked thoughtfully to Tom, as the two stood looking towards the
interior of the fertile country which they had just reached. "I keep
wondering whether we should push straight on, or remain where we are. I
mean, whether we should post our men at this spot and go forward alone."
"But surely you will want every follower," cried Tom. "Careful as we
have been to keep our movements a secret, it is almost impossible to
expect that the Mullah will remain for long in ignorance. Then, as soon
as he hears of us, out will come his cut-throats to visit us and eat up
the whole convoy, if they are able."
"Exactly so, Tom, and it is because his men will come, and in large
numbers, too, that I suggest that we should find a spot for our
followers, and make a raid into the country alone. If we were
discovered, we should make a bolt for it, and trust to rejoin our camp
before we were caught. On the other hand, suppose we push on in a body.
Unless we have the fortune to come upon another spot like the ravine,
certain defeat will stare us in the face, for the Mullah has thousands
of men."
"What a long-headed beggar you are to be sure!" exclaimed Tom, smacking
him heartily upon the back. "You seem to get to the bottom of all these
difficulties at once, and what you have said is, I feel sure, as wise a
course as we could carry out. But what about a spot in which to make the
camp? It must be a strong one, or it will be useless. Again, it must be
within reasonable distance, for otherwise we should never reach it."
"The difficulty is great, but it is not beyond our powers," said a voice
at his elbow, as Ali Kumar joined them. "I have already told you that I
have once before crossed the Hoad, but that I have never penetrated the
country beyond. I will now explain for what reason. It happened that I,
with my father and my father's tribe, had suffered much at the hands of
some neighbours of ours, who were far stronger than we were. For years
they had harried our flocks, slain our men, and carried off the women
and children. So that at last we decided to migrate and to place the
desert between ourselves and our enemies. Carefully did we make our
preparations, and then we set out upon the journey. Alas, master, it
proved disastrous, for our beasts were in poor condition, and few in
numbers. Then fortune was against us, for we stumbled into a storm of
sand, which lasted for a day, and left us well-nigh dead. But we
struggled on, hoping for the best. One by one our camels fell by the
way, and soon men, too, joined them. At last, to make our troubles more
than we could bear, the beasts, in their mad desire for water, tore open
the sacks of goat-skin in which we carried our precious supply, and let
the contents rush out upon the sand, where it disappeared at once,
licked up by the parched land. From that moment all order was lost, and
within a very few hours we had scattered, some in their madness
returning, and all wandering from their path, their tongues lolling from
their blackened lips, and their limbs staggering beneath them.
"With three of my comrades I struggled forward till I saw a patch of
green before me. At first I thought that it was a mirage, risen to cheat
me into hope. But it was real--a glorious sight!--and, together with
those who were with me, I ran towards it. There was water there, master,
and food, and when, after resting, we searched the place, we found that
it bore no traces of a camp, and that in all probability none but wild
beasts had ever visited it. Three days later we pushed on to the fertile
land of the Mullah, but there my comrades were killed, I alone escaping.
In fear and terror I returned to the oasis, and from there Allah helped
me to trudge across the desert and reach that portion of the land which
skirts the sea. My journeying may be of use to you now, master, for the
green spot of which I speak lies some ten miles only within the Hoad,
and it is wide enough to give grazing to all your beasts. Of food you
have enough in store of the kind that is sealed in tins, and therefore
cannot fear starvation, while of water there is abundance. Moreover, it
occurs to me that a strong zareba might be made in the heart of the
trees, for there is wood to be had, and do we not carry ample wire with
hooks upon it to surround the whole place?"
"It sounds the very thing," cried Jim excitedly, having listened with
great interest to all that Ali had to say. "If it is so close to the
edge of the Mullah's country, it should prove an excellent base from
which to set out on small spying expeditions. Then, if we do as you
suggest, we ought to make it so strong that we could safely retreat to
it when things become warm, and even defy the Mullah and his men. Yes,
it is a good thing, I am sure, and I vote that we make for it at once."
Having discussed the matter with Tom--for, though nominally in charge of
the expedition, he never neglected to call upon his friend for help--Jim
decided to wait till the following morning, and then to raise the camp
and search for the oasis of which Ali had spoken. Accordingly, at the
first sign of dawn, all were afoot and marching to the west, in which
direction the wells were situated. At length they sighted a grove of
shady trees, and hailed it with a shout of joy. An hour later their
zareba was formed, and Jim and his friend were closely inspecting the
surroundings.
"It will be even more suitable than I had hoped," said Jim in delight.
"Look at those trees, and see how they will help us."
"Yes--er--well, I confess that I cannot follow you," was the puzzled
response. "We might hide in the trees--perhaps that's what you mean?"
"Partly, Tom; but I thought that they were placed in just the position
to be of service to us. Look at the outside row. By cutting down a few
we could have a square formed by the trunks, and giving a large clearing
in the centre where the water is. Then we have only to connect the trees
by means of barbed wire, and we have a fort into which the Mullah's men
would find it a job to rush. Once our entanglement was completed, we
could rig up some kind of a blockhouse inside, so that we should have
plenty of cover, while as for the camels and horses, they of course must
take their chance, though the long range of our rifles should make it
possible to keep the enemy at a respectful distance, from which their
old muzzle-loaders could not reach us."
"You're a wonder!" gasped Tom. "It seems to me that you are a born
soldier."
"Not a bit of it," was the modest reply. "But, you see, my father was
always telling me about the fights in which he had taken part. They were
usually against natives, in some part of this continent, and there was
always a ruse of this sort, some dodge by which he and his men held the
larger numbers of the enemy at bay. That's how it is that I have an eye
which seems to take in the possibilities of a place, and I put it down
to my father and his yarns that I was able to make defence practicable
away back at the ravine. But, seriously, what do you think of the
dodge?"
"It is the best thing you have yet thought out, Jim, and should prove of
enormous advantage to us; for, knowing that we have a haven to retreat
to, we shall go about our work of tracking the Mullah far more
fearlessly, though I tell you that, in any case, it is going to be a
risky game."
Pacing backwards and forwards amongst the trees, Jim and his companion
soon marked out the site of their fort. Then they called for an axe, and
cut a wide slit at the base of each trunk which they had decided was to
be removed, giving orders that the men were to set to at the work on the
following morning. That done, they went well beyond the trees, but
finding nothing but a weary sandy waste, and no cover that could be of
the slightest use to an enemy, they returned to the zareba, and selected
a site close beside the well, and almost in the centre of the square
which they had marked off for the fort. On this a rough circle was
drawn, and calling Ali to his side, Jim gave directions that the trees,
when felled on the morrow, were to be dragged there, and arranged to as
to form a blockhouse.
"We want a raised platform," he said, as he walked over the spot once
more, and deepened the line in the earth by means of his toe. "If we set
our fellows to throw up a mound round the edge of this circle, and then
pile the logs there, morticing them roughly together, we shall have a
fine blockhouse, from which we shall be able to command the surrounding
desert for many yards. I reckon that our rifles carry a good mile, and
very likely even more than that; so that in the daytime we can make it
impossible for the enemy to approach, unless in overwhelming numbers. If
they come in a huge army, we shall lie behind our cover and blaze at
them from a position of safety, and as we have been careful to bring a
large store of ammunition, we need have no fears that it will become
suddenly expended. I should think, too, that a watch-tower of some sort
would be useful."
"Then why not make one of these trees serve the purpose?" asked Tom,
staring aloft at the green top of a palm which overhung the party. "It
happens to occupy the very centre of your circle, and can easily be
pegged so as to make ascent possible."
"A grand idea!" exclaimed Jim, "and that, too, shall be carried out. But
now about the camels and ponies. We want a zareba into which we can
drive them at night, and in case of attack."
"Then do the same for them as for ourselves," said Tom. "Look here, old
boy, you ought to take particular pains to keep them well away from the
water, or our supply may be fouled and rendered unfit for our
consumption. Why not dig out a place for them, throwing the earth
removed into a wall, which will protect them? Then, if you place the
zareba over there, a trench from the wells will carry the water to them,
so that their wants can be supplied."
Tom pointed to a spot within thirty yards, where the ground fell
slightly, and where numerous big palms grew, offering shade for the
animals.
"It would be an easy matter to do as suggested," interposed Ali Kumar,
interrupting his masters. "I have seen such an arrangement before, and
will see that the trench is dug, and a small wooden gate put at the
head, so that a certain quantity can be allowed to run through at any
time. Otherwise you would have the zareba filled with water, and the
animals would quickly die. As to our being able to do all this, I can
promise that the end of the week shall see the work completed, for the
men will have little to do now that we are in camp, and when the beasts
are driven out to graze, and sentries posted, the others will have their
hours free, and will devote them to getting the camp into a state of
defence."
"And while they are at work we shall make excursions into the Mullah's
country," remarked Jim. "We'll just wait until the wire is stretched and
the blockhouse begun, for it would not do to have the enemy coming down
upon us before we were ready. Then we'll take the best camels and set
out. Who knows but that we may have the luck to rescue my father without
much trouble, and in a week we may even be marching for the coast once
more?"
He spoke in the most hopeful manner, for the good fortune with which
they had hitherto met had raised his spirits to the highest, so much so
that complete success seemed even now in sight. But Jim had not yet
encountered the terrible Mullah, he whose name was a byword in Northern
Africa, and whose cruelties and whose cunning were talked about in every
part of the civilized world. Had he had personal experience of him, his
ideas would have undergone a change, for this leader of the Somali
fanatics was not likely to sit down tamely and submit to the theft of a
slave. Why should he indeed, when he openly boasted that he was ready to
meet all the troops which the British Government could bring against
him? It was out of the question to imagine for a moment that he who had
so recently defeated a British column would dream of allowing this small
expedition to escape his clutches, if he obtained news of its coming.
Why, the guns and ammunition Jim and his following possessed would alone
have been a prize, while the death of all who took part in this
audacious enterprise would elevate the Mullah still higher in the
estimation of the savage tribesmen who lived in these parts. Yes, had
Jim been able to see into this matter as clearly as he was able to
observe the strongest position for defence, he might have been less
sanguine, indeed he might have trembled at the thought of all the danger
before him. But he was blissfully ignorant, and went on with his plans
of rescue, without allowing his mind to dwell unduly upon the prospect
of difficulties which might yet have to be encountered. Would his
determination have been altered had he known that at that very moment
the Mullah was listening to the tale of a scout who had witnessed the
march of the column on the previous day? We doubt it, for Jim was not
the lad to give in till convinced that he was beaten. But, as it was, he
knew nothing, and went on with his preparations with a mind which was
free from uneasiness.
"We have all had a hard day," he said, "so I propose we turn in early
to-night. Then we can be up with the lark, and set to at the work we
have before us."
Scarcely had day dawned when all were awake, and guards having been
posted to watch the grazing beasts, the remainder took spades and axes,
which had been included in the baggage of the column, and, stripping to
the waist, began to cut down the trees which Jim and Tom had marked on
the previous day. Then, while some dragged the logs to the centre,
others unrolled the barbed wire, and began to form an entanglement. A
tiny doorway was left, so that the garrison could enter at will, but it
was protected inside by a semicircle of the wire, so that should one of
the enemy happen to rush in, he would still have an impenetrable barrier
before him.
When the entanglement was completed to his satisfaction, Jim set the men
to work to throw up the platform for the blockhouse, and, before
darkness fell, saw it completed.
"And now for a zareba for the animals," he cried gaily, on the following
morning. "Not till that is done can I leave the camp."
With Tom beside him to aid him with his advice, he directed the men how
to proceed with the work, and, by way of encouraging them, seized a
spade himself, and began to delve with all his might. For hours together
all laboured, but, thanks to the fact that the soil was light and easily
turned, the task proved easier than it might have been. Indeed, by
nightfall the animals were safely enclosed, and an entanglement of wire
surrounded them, so that even if the enemy managed to rush up to them,
they could not cause them to stampede. A trench had been cut from the
wells to this zareba, within which a long trough had been constructed of
mud, so arranged that it could be filled to the brim at the will of
those who lived in the blockhouse, while the contents would drain slowly
away and soak into the soil outside. Standing in the centre of the
miniature fort which he had caused to be erected, Jim looked about him
on that evening with feelings of pride and satisfaction.
"I never could have thought it possible," he murmured to himself. "When
we started from the farther side of the Hoad, it often troubled me to
think what we should do to protect ourselves once we reached the
Mullah's country, but I never dreamt that we should have the luck to
fall in with this oasis. Why, we could live here for a month, or longer,
and stand a siege without much fear; for, with these logs to protect us,
we ought to be able to keep the plain outside clear of the enemy during
the daytime, while our animals could graze in the large square of barbed
wire which we have made. Then, as soon as they had eaten the grass
there, we could send our fellows out to cut more during the night. Yes,
we are in clover here, and can now take measures to rescue father. Tom,
I want to ask you a question," he continued to his friend.
"Well, what is it, old boy?"
"How about leaving the camp? Will it be sufficient if Ali remains in
charge?"
"I think not," Tom answered with decision. "Now that we are so close to
the Mullah, we must take it for granted that an attack, sooner or later,
is inevitable. That being the case, it would be fatal to leave our
natives to themselves, for, if deprived of a leader, they would be like
sheep, and would quickly be overcome. I know what you are worrying
about. You want to know who is to stay behind?"
"That is it," responded Jim. "You see, I have had the best of it up to
this, and it seems unfair to ask you to sit down here while I have all
the excitement and adventure."
"Not a bit of it!" exclaimed Tom eagerly. "You must remember that this
is your expedition, and that the rescue of your father is of the utmost
importance. If we are successful in that, we shall have obtained plenty
of information concerning the Mullah, so that we shall both be
satisfied. There! Don't consider me any more, but just act as you think
best."
"I'm glad to know that you think in that way, Tom," answered Jim. "And
now, as you are agreeable to the arrangement, I will ask you to take
charge of the camp while I go off on a scouting expedition. I propose to
take Ali Kumar alone, and to strike at once for the enemy's country."