The harbour was full of merchant ships, as there were, at present, no
means of getting their cargoes unloaded. The native boatmen had, for
the most part, struck work; and had they been willing to man their
boats, they must have remained idle as, in view of the situation, the
merchants felt that their goods were much safer on board ship than they
would be in their magazines. It was settled, therefore that, for the
present, Annie and the child should remain on board the Simoon, while
Gregory should take up his residence at the office.
The fleet in the harbour was now an imposing one. Not only were the
English and French squadrons there, but some Italian ships of war had
arrived, and a United States cruiser; and on the 7th of July, Sir
Beauchamp Seymour sent in a decisive message, that he should commence a
bombardment of the fort unless the strengthening of the fortifications
was, at once, abandoned. No heed was taken of the intimation and, three
days later, he sent an ultimatum demanding the cessation of work, and
the immediate surrender of the forts nearest to the entrance to the
harbour; stating that, if these terms were not complied with in
twenty-four hours, the bombardment would commence.
Already the greater part of the European inhabitants had left the town,
and taken up their quarters in the merchant ships that had been engaged
for the purpose. A few, however, of the bankers and merchants
determined to remain. These gathered in the bank, and in Mr. Ferguson's
house, to which the most valuable goods in other establishments were
removed. They had an ample supply of firearms, and believed that they
could hold out for a considerable time. They were convinced that the
Egyptian troops would not, for an hour, resist the fire that would be
opened upon them, but would speedily evacuate the town; and that,
therefore, there would only be the mob to be encountered, and this but
for a short time, as the sailors would land as soon as the Egyptian
troops fled.
The Egyptians, on the other hand, believed absolutely in their ability
to destroy the fleet.
Both parties were wrong. The Europeans greatly undervalued the fighting
powers of the Egyptians, animated as they were by confidence in the
strength of the defences, by their number, and by their fanaticism;
while the Egyptians similarly undervalued the tremendous power of our
ships.
That evening, and the next morning, the port presented an animated
appearance. Boats were putting off with those inhabitants who had
waited on, hoping that the Egyptians would at the last moment give in.
Many of the merchantmen had already cleared out. Others were getting up
sail. Smoke was rising from the funnels of all the men of war.
An express boat had brought, from France, orders that the French fleet
were to take no part in the proceedings, but were to proceed at once to
Port Said. This order excited the bitterest feeling of anger and
humiliation among the French officers and sailors, who had relied
confidently in taking their part in the bombardment; and silently their
ships, one by one, left the port. The Italian and American vessels
remained for a time; and as the British ships followed, in stately
order, their crews manned the rigging and vociferously cheered our
sailors, who replied as heartily.
All, save the British men of war, took up their stations well out at
sea, in a direction where they would be out of the fire of the Egyptian
batteries. It was not until nine o'clock in the evening that the two
last British ships, the Invincible and Monarch, steamed out of port. At
half-past four in the morning the ships got under weigh again, and
moved to the positions marked out for them.
Fort Mex, and the batteries on the sand hills were faced by the
Penelope, the Monarch, and the Invincible; the Alexandra, the Superb,
and the Sultan faced the harbour forts, Ada, Pharos, and Ras-el-Teen;
the Temeraire and Inflexible prepared to aid the Invincible in her
attack on Fort Mex, or to support the three battleships engaged off the
port, as might be required; and the five gunboats moved away towards
Fort Marabout, which lay some distance to the west of the town.
At seven o'clock, the Alexandra began the engagement by firing a single
gun. Then the whole fleet opened fire, the Egyptian artillerymen
replying with great steadiness and resolution. There was scarcely a
breath of wind, and the ships were, in a few instants, shrouded in
their own smoke; and were frequently obliged to cease firing until this
drifted slowly away, to enable them to aim their guns. The rattle of
the machine guns added to the din. Midshipmen were sent aloft, and
these signalled down to the deck the result of each shot, so that the
gunners were enabled to direct their fire, even when they could not see
ten yards beyond the muzzle of the guns.
In a short time, the forts and batteries showed how terrible was the
effect of the great shells. The embrasures were torn and widened, there
were great gaps in the masonry of the buildings, and the hail of
missiles from the machine guns swept every spot near the Egyptian guns;
and yet, Arabi's soldiers did not flinch but, in spite of the number
that fell, worked their guns as fast as ever.
Had they been accustomed to the huge Krupp guns in their batteries, the
combat would have been more equal; and although the end would have been
the same, the ships must have suffered terribly. Fortunately, the
Egyptian artillerymen had little experience in the working of these
heavy pieces, and their shot in almost every case flew high--sometimes
above the masts, sometimes between them, but in only a few instances
striking the hull. With their smaller guns they made good practice, but
though the shot from these pieces frequently struck, they dropped
harmlessly from the iron sides, and only those that entered through the
portholes effected any damage.
The Condor, under Lord Charles Beresford, was the first to engage Fort
Marabout; and, for a time, the little gunboat was the mark of all the
guns of the fort. But the other four gunboats speedily came to her
assistance, and effectually diverted the fire of the fort from the
ships that were engaging Fort Mex.
At eight o'clock the Monarch, having silenced the fort opposite to her,
and dismounted the guns, joined the Inflexible and Penelope in their
duel with Fort Mex; and by nine o'clock all the guns were silenced
except four, two of which were heavy rifled guns, well sheltered. In
spite of the heavy fire from the three great ships, the Egyptian
soldiers maintained their fire, the officers frequently exposing
themselves to the bullets of the machine guns by leaping upon the
parapet, to ascertain the effect of their own shot.
The harbour forts were, by this time, crumbling under the shot of four
warships opposed to them. The Pharos suffered most heavily, and its
guns were absolutely silenced; while the fire from the other two forts
slackened, considerably. At half-past ten, it was seen that the
Ras-el-Teen Palace, which lay behind the fort, was on fire; and, half
an hour later, the fire from that fort and Fort Ada almost died out.
The British Admiral now gave the signal to cease firing, and as the
smoke cleared away, the effects of the five hours' bombardment were
visible. The forts and batteries were mere heaps of ruins. The guns
could be made out, lying dismounted, or standing with their muzzles
pointing upwards.
The ships had not come out scatheless, but their injuries were, for the
most part, immaterial; although rigging had been cut away, bulwarks
smashed, and sides dinted. One gun of the Penelope had been disabled,
and two of the Alexandra. Only five men had been killed, altogether,
and twenty-seven wounded.
No sign was made of surrender, and an occasional fire was kept up on
the forts, to prevent the Egyptians from repairing damages. At one
o'clock, twelve volunteers from the Invincible started to destroy the
guns of Fort Mex. Their fire had ceased, and no men were to be seen in
the fort; but they might have been lying in wait to attack any landing
party.
On nearing the shore, the surf was found to be too heavy for the boat
to pass through it, and Major Tulloch and six men swam ashore and
entered the fort. It was found to be deserted, and all the guns but two
ten-inch pieces dismounted. The charges of gun cotton, that the
swimmers brought ashore with them, were placed in the cannon; and their
muzzles blown off. After performing this very gallant service, the
little party swam back to their boat.
The British admiral's position was now a difficult one. There were no
signs of surrender; for aught he could tell, fifteen thousand Egyptian
troops might be lying round the ruined forts, or in the town hard by,
in readiness to oppose a landing. That these troops were not to be
despised was evident, by the gallantry with which they had fought their
guns. This force would be aided by the mass of the population; and it
would be hazardous, indeed, to risk the loss of fifteen hundred men,
and the reversal of the success already gained.
At the same time, it was painful to think that the Europeans on shore
might be massacred, and the whole city destroyed, by the exasperated
troops and fanatical population. It was known that the number of
Englishmen there was not large, two or three hundred at most; but there
was a much larger number of the lower class of Europeans--port
labourers, fishermen, petty shopkeepers, and others--who had preferred
taking their chance to the certainty of losing all their little
possessions, if they left them.
Anxiously the glasses of those on board the ships were directed towards
the shore, in hopes of seeing the white flag hoisted, or a boat come
out with it flying; but there were no signs of the intentions of the
defenders, and the fleet prepared to resume the action in the morning.
Fort Marabout, and several of the batteries on the shore, were still
unsilenced; and two heavy guns, mounted on the Moncrieff system (by
which the gun rose to a level of the parapet, fired, and instantly sank
again), had continued to fire all day, in spite of the efforts of the
fleet to silence them.
Next morning, however, there was a long heavy swell, and the ironclads
were rolling too heavily for anything like accuracy of aim; but as
parties of men could be seen, at work in the Moncrieff battery, fire
was opened upon them, and they speedily evacuated it.
All night, the Palace of Ras-el-Teen burned fiercely. Another great
fire was raging in the heart of the town, and anxiety for those on
shore, for the time, overpowered the feeling of exultation at the
victory that had been gained.
At half-past ten a white flag was hoisted at the Pharos battery, and
all on board watched, with deep anxiety, what was to follow. Lieutenant
Lambton at once steamed into the fort, in the Bittern, to enquire if
the government were ready to surrender. It was three o'clock before he
steamed out again, with the news that his mission was fruitless; and
that the white flag had only been hoisted, by the officer in command of
the fort, to enable himself and his men to get away unmolested.
Lieutenant Lambton had obtained an interview with the military
governor, on behalf of the government, and told him that we were not at
war with Egypt, and had simply destroyed the forts because they
threatened the fleet; that we had no conditions to impose upon the
government, but were ready to discuss any proposal; and that the troops
would be allowed to evacuate the forts, with the honour of war.
It was most unfortunate that the fleet had not brought with them two or
three thousand troops. Had they done so they could have landed at once,
and saved a great portion of the town from destruction; but as he had
no soldiers, the admiral could not land a portion of the sailors, as
the large Egyptian force in the town, which was still protected by a
number of land batteries, might fall upon them.
At five o'clock the Helicon was sent in to say that white flags would
not be noticed, unless hoisted by authority; and if they were again
shown, the British admiral would consider them the signs of a general
surrender. It was a long time before the Helicon returned, with news
that no communication had been received from the enemy, that the
barracks and arsenals seemed to be deserted and, as far as could be
seen, the whole town was evacuated.
As evening wore on, fresh fires broke out in all parts of the town, and
a steam pinnace was sent ashore to ascertain, if possible, the state of
affairs. Mr. Ross, a contractor for the supply of meat to the fleet,
volunteered to accompany it.
The harbour was dark and deserted. Not a light was to be seen in the
houses near the water. The crackling of the flames could be heard, with
an occasional crash of falling walls and roofs. On nearing the landing
place the pinnace paused, for two or three minutes, for those on board
to listen; and as all was quiet, steamed alongside. Mr. Ross jumped
ashore, and the boat backed off a few yards.
A quarter of an hour later, he returned. That quarter of the town was
entirely deserted, and he had pushed on until arrested by a barrier of
flames. The great square was on fire, from end to end; the European
quarter generally was in flames; and he could see, by the litter that
strewed the streets, that the houses had been plundered before being
fired.
When daylight broke, a number of Europeans could be seen, at the edge
of the water, in the harbour. Boats were at once lowered; and the
crews, armed to the teeth, rowed ashore. Here they found about a
hundred Europeans, many of them wounded. When rioting had broken out
they had, as arranged, assembled at the Anglo-Egyptian Bank. They were
taken off to the merchant steamers, lying behind the fleet, and their
information confirmed the worst forebodings of the fugitives there.
When the first gun of the bombardment was fired, Gregory had gone up,
with the other employees, to the top of the house; where they commanded
a view over the whole scene of action. After the first few minutes'
firing they could see but little, for batteries and ships were, alike,
shrouded in smoke. At first, there had been some feeling of insecurity,
and a doubt whether a shot too highly aimed might not come into the
town; but the orders to abstain carefully from injuring the city had
been well observed, and, except to the Palace and a few houses close to
the water's edge, no damage was done.
Towards evening, all those who had resolved to remain behind gathered
at the Anglo-Egyptian Bank, or at Mr. Ferguson's. But a consultation
was held later, and it was agreed that next morning all should go to
the bank, which was a far more massive building, with fewer entrances,
and greater facilities for defence. When the town was quiet, therefore,
all were employed in transferring valuable goods there, and the house
was then locked up and left to its fate. Against a mere rising of the
rabble the latter might have been successfully defended; but there was
little doubt that, before leaving the town, the troops would join the
fanatics; and in that case, a house not built with a special eye for
defence could hardly hope to hold out, against persistent attack.
The bank, however, might hope to make a stout defence. It was built of
massive stone, the lower windows were barred, and a strong barricade
was built against the massive doors. A hundred and twenty resolute men,
all well armed, could hold it against even a persistent attack, if
unsupported by artillery.
Early in the afternoon, all felt that the critical moment had
approached. Throughout the night a fire had raged, from the opposite
side of the great square; where several deserted houses had been broken
into, and plundered, by the mob; but the soldiers stationed in the
square had prevented any further disorder.
Now, however, parties of troops from the forts began to pour in. It was
already known that their losses had been very heavy, and that many of
the forts had been destroyed. Soon they broke up and, joining the mob,
commenced the work of pillage. Doors were blown in, shutters torn off
and, with wild yells and shouts, the native population poured in. The
work of destruction had begun.
The garrison of the bank saw many Europeans, hurrying, too late, to
reach that shelter, murdered before their eyes. In the Levantine
quarter, the cracking of pistols and the shouts of men showed that the
work of massacre was proceeding there. Soon every door of the houses in
the great square was forced in, and ere long great numbers of men,
loaded with spoil of all kinds, staggered out.
So far the bank had been left alone; but it was now its turn, and the
mob poured down upon it. As they came up, a sharp fire broke out from
every window, answered by a discharge of muskets and pistols from the
crowd. Here men fell fast, but they had been worked up to such a pitch
of excitement, and fanaticism, that the gaps were more than filled by
fresh comers.
All the afternoon and evening the fight continued. In vain the mob
endeavoured to break down the massive iron bars of the windows, and
batter in the doors. Although many of the defenders were wounded, and
several killed; by the fire from the windows of the neighbouring
houses, and from the road; their steady fire, at the points most hotly
attacked, drove their assailants back again and again.
At twelve o'clock the assault slackened. The soldiers had long left
and, so far as could be seen from the roof of the house, had entirely
evacuated the town; and as this fact became known to the mob, the
thought of the consequences of their action cooled their fury; for they
knew that, probably, the troops would land from the British ships next
day. Each man had his plunder to secure, and gradually the crowd melted
away.
By two o'clock all was quiet; and although, occasionally, fresh fires
burst out in various quarters of the town, there could be little doubt
that the great bulk of the population had followed the example of the
army, and had left the city.
Then the besieged gathered in the great office on the ground floor;
and, as it was agreed that there would be probably no renewal of the
attack, they quietly left the house, locking the doors after them, and
made their way down to the shore. They believed that they were the only
survivors, but when they reached the end of the town, they found that
the building of the Credit Lyonnais had also been successfully
defended, though the Ottoman Bank had been overpowered, and all within
it, upwards of a hundred in number, killed.
Gregory had done his full share in the defence, and received a musket
ball in the shoulder. His wife had passed a terrible time, while the
conflagration was raging, and it was evident that the populace had
risen, and were undoubtedly murdering as well as burning and
plundering; and her delight was indeed great when she saw her husband,
with others, approaching in a man-of-war's boat. The fact that one arm
was in a sling was scarcely noticed, in her joy at his return, alive.
"Thank God, you are safe!" she said, as he came up the gangway. "It has
been an awful time, and I had almost given up hope of ever seeing you
alive, again."
"I told you, dear, that I felt confident we could beat off the scum of
the town. Of course it was a sharp fight, but there was never any real
danger of their breaking in. We only lost about half a dozen, out of
nearly a hundred and twenty, and some twenty of us were wounded. My
injury is not at all serious, and I shall soon be all right again. It
is only a broken collarbone.
"However, it has been a terrible time. The great square, and almost all
the European quarter, have been entirely destroyed. The destruction of
property is something frightful, and most of the merchants will be
absolutely ruined. Fortunately, our firm were insured, pretty well up
to the full value."
"But I thought that they could not break in there?"
"We all moved out, the evening before, to the Anglo-Egyptian Bank. The
town was full of troops, and we doubted whether we could hold the
place. As the bank was much stronger, we agreed that it was better to
join the two garrisons and fight it out there; and I am very glad we
did so, for I doubt whether we could have defended our place,
successfully."
Mr. Ferguson and the clerks had all come off with Gregory to the
Simoon, on board which there was plenty of accommodation for them, as
it was not one of the ships that had been taken up for the
accommodation of the fugitives. Among the party who came on board was a
doctor, who had taken part in the defence of the bank, and had attended
to the wounded as the fight went on. He did so again that evening, and
told Gregory that in a month he would, if he took care of himself, be
able to use his arm again.
The next morning there was a consultation in the cabin. Mr. Ferguson
had gone on shore, late the previous afternoon; as five hundred sailors
had been landed, and had returned in the evening.
"It is certain," he said, "that nothing can be done until the place is
rebuilt. The sailors are busy at work, fighting the fire, but there are
continued fresh outbreaks. The bulk of the natives have left; but
Arabi, before marching out, opened the prisons and released the
convicts; and these and the scum of the town are still there, and
continue the destruction whenever they get a chance. A score or two
have been caught red handed and shot down, and a number of others have
been flogged.
"Another batch of sailors will land this morning, and order will soon
be restored; unless Arabi, who is encamped, with some ten thousand men,
two miles outside the town, makes an effort to recover the place. I
don't think he is likely to do so, for now that the European houses
have all been destroyed, there would be no longer any reluctance to
bombard the town itself; and even if Arabi did recover it, he would
very soon be shelled out.
"By the way, a larger number of people have been saved than was
imagined. Several of the streets in the poor European quarters have
escaped. The people barricaded the ends, and fought so desperately that
their assailants drew off, finding it easier to plunder the better
quarters. Even if the mob had overcome the resistance of the defenders
of the lanes, they would have found little worth taking there; so some
five hundred Europeans have escaped, and these will be very useful.
"Charley Beresford has charge of the police arrangements on shore, and
he has gangs of them at work fighting the fire, and all the natives are
forced to assist. The wires will be restored in a day or two, when I
shall, of course, telegraph for instructions; and have no doubt that
Mr. Partridge will send out orders to rebuild as soon as order is
completely restored.
"I imagine that most of us will be recalled home, until that is done.
Even if the place were intact, no business would be done, as our goods
would be of little use to the navy or army; for no doubt an army will
be sent. Arabi is as powerful as ever, but now that we have taken the
matter in hand, it must be carried through.
"At any rate, there will be no clerks' work to be done here. The plans
for a new building will naturally be prepared at home, and a foreman of
works sent out. It is a bad job for us all, but as it is we must not
complain; for we have escaped with our lives, and I hope that, in six
months, we may open again. However, we can form no plans, until I
receive instructions from home."
Gregory did not go ashore for the next week, by which time order had
been completely restored, the fires extinguished, and the streets made,
at least, passable. The sailors had been aided by a battalion of
marines, which had been telegraphed for from Malta by the admiral,
before the bombardment began. The Khedive had returned to Has-el-Teen,
which had only been partly destroyed, as soon as the blue-jackets
entered. His arrival put an end to all difficulties, as henceforward
our operations were carried on, nominally, by his orders.
The American ships entered the harbour the next day and the naval
officer in command landed one hundred and twenty-five men, to assist
our blue-jackets; and, two days later, the 38th Regiment and a
battalion of the 60th Rifles arrived.
The shops in the streets that escaped destruction gradually reopened,
and country people began to bring in supplies. Many of the refugees on
board the ships sailed for home, while those who found their houses
still standing, although everything in them was smashed and destroyed,
set to work to make them habitable. Soon temporary sheds were erected,
and such portions of the cargoes on board the merchantmen as would be
likely to find a sale, were landed.
Before the end of the week, Mr. Ferguson had received an answer to his
telegram. Three days previously he had received a wire: "Have written
fully." The letter came via Marseilles. After congratulations at the
escape of himself and the staff, Mr. Partridge wrote:
"As you say that the house and warehouse are entirely destroyed, with
all contents, there can be nothing for you and the clerks to do; and
you had best return, at once, to England. I will make the best
arrangements that I can for you all.
"As I have a plan of the ground, I have already instructed an architect
to prepare a sketch for rebuilding, on a larger scale than before. The
insurance companies are sending out agents to verify claims. Looking at
your last report, it seems to me that the loss of goods, as well as
that of buildings, will be fully covered. Should any of the staff
determine to remain in Alexandria, and to take their chance of finding
something to do, you are authorized to pay them three months' salary,
and to promise to reinstate them, as soon as we reopen.
"I anticipate no further disturbances, whatever. A strong force is
being sent out, and there can be no doubt that Arabi will be crushed,
as soon as it is ready to take the field."
Other directions followed, but these were only amplifications of those
mentioned.
"What do you think, Annie?" Gregory said, when Ferguson had read to his
staff that portion of the letter that concerned them. "Shall we take
the three months' pay and remain here, or shall we go back to England?"
"What do you think, yourself?"
"There are two lights in which to look at it, Annie. First, which would
be best for us? And secondly, which shall we like best? Of course, the
first is the more difficult point to decide. You see, Partridge doesn't
say that we shall be kept on; he only says that he will do his best for
us. I don't think that there is any chance of his keeping us on at full
pay. If he intended to do so, it would have been cheaper for him to
give us our pay here, in which case he would save our passages back to
England and out again. I think we could not reckon on getting anything
like full pay, while we were in England, and you know I have lost faith
in my literary powers. I think I have improved, but I certainly should
not like, after our last experience, to trust to that for keeping us,
in England.
"The question is, what should I do here? There will be plenty of
openings, for men who can speak the native language, as labour
overseers. The contractors for food for the army will want men of that
sort; and as I know several of them, through my work in the port and
being in Partridge's house, I have no doubt I could get employment that
way, and carry on very well till trade is open again, and obtain then a
good deal better berth than they would offer me. No doubt, one could
get employment in the transport or commissariat of the army, when it
comes out. That will be a thing to think seriously of.
"My objections to that are personal ones. In the first place, it would
lead to nothing when the affair is over. In the second place, I should
be certain to meet men I knew at Harrow, or at the University, or since
then; and I own that I should shrink from that. As Gregory Hilliard, I
don't mind carrying a parcel or helping to load a dray; but I should
not like, as Gregory Hartley, to be known to be doing that sort of
thing. Personally I feel not the smallest humiliation in doing so, but
I don't think it would be fair to Geoffrey. I should not like it
myself, if I were an earl, for fellows who knew him to be able to say
that my brother was knocking about in Egypt as an interpreter, or mule
driver, or something of that sort. That certainly has to be taken into
consideration.
"It is not likely that I should get any sort of berth that an officer
would be appointed to, for every officer in the army, whose regiment is
not coming out here, will be rushing to the War Office to apply for any
sort of appointment that would enable him to come out to the war.
"Again, it is almost certain that, when this business is over--and I
don't suppose it will last long, after we get an army out here--a fresh
Egyptian force will be raised. You may be sure that the greater portion
of our troops will be hurried back, as soon as it is over; and that, as
the present Egyptian army will be altogether smashed up, it will be
absolutely necessary that there should be a force, of some kind or
other, that can put a stop to this Mahdi fellow's doings. He has
overrun half the Soudan, and inflicted serious defeats on the Egyptian
troops there. He has captured a considerable portion of Kordofan; and,
of course, it is owing to his insurrection that those rows have
occurred down at the Red Sea, where our men have been fighting.
"It is likely enough that they may appoint some British officers to the
new force, and I might get a fair position on it. They will want
interpreters there. Promotion will be sure to be rapid, and I might
have opportunities of distinguishing myself, and get an appointment
where I could, without discrediting it, take my own name again.
"These are only among the things that might be; but at the worst, I am
certain to get some sort of post, at Alexandria, which would enable us
to live without trenching upon the three months' pay that is offered
me; and then, if I could see nothing better, I could return to
Partridge's employment when they reopen here, and I have no doubt that
they would improve my position.
"I don't think that Parrott is likely to come back again. The climate
did not suit him, and he is always having attacks of fever. Ferguson
has, I know, for he told me so, reported very favourably about my work
to headquarters; and, as I have been wounded in defence of the house, I
have an additional claim. The others will, of course, be moved up, and
I should get the junior clerkship--no advance in the way of
remuneration, but a great improvement in position.
"So I think we had better accept the three months' pay, and take our
chances. At any rate, there will be no fear of another disturbance at
Alexandria. The mob have had a lesson here that they are not likely to
forget, and I should fancy that, although we may withdraw the army, two
or three regiments will be left here, and at Cairo, for a long time to
come. We should be fools, indeed, if we threw away the money that this
business will cost, before it is over, and let Egypt slip altogether
out of our fingers again. France has forfeited her right to have
anything to say in the matter. In our hands it will be a very valuable
possession, and certainly our stay here would be of inestimable
advantage to the natives, as we should govern Egypt as we govern India,
and do away with the tyranny, oppression, and extortion of the native
officials."
Mrs. Hilliard quite agreed with her husband; and accordingly, the next
day, Gregory informed Mr. Ferguson that he would accept the three
months' pay, and his discharge; and should, at any rate for a time,
remain in Alexandria.
"I think you are right, Hilliard. There will be lots of opportunities
here for a man who knows the language as you do. If you like, I will
speak to Mr. Ross. I saw him yesterday, in the town, and he said that
two of his assistants had been killed. He has already obtained a fresh
contract, and a very heavy one, for the supply of meat for the troops
as they arrive; and I have no doubt he would be very glad to engage
you, on good terms, though the engagement could only be made during the
stay of the army here."
"Thank you, sir. I shall be much obliged to you if you will do so; and
I would rather that the engagement should be a temporary one, on both
sides, so that I should be free to leave, at a few days' notice."
The contractor, after a chat with Gregory Hilliard, was glad to secure
his services. He saw the advantage that it would be to have a gentleman
to represent him, with the army, instead of an agent of a very
different kind. Other men would do to purchase animals from the Arabs,
or to receive them at the ports when they were brought over from Spain
and Italy; but it required a variety of qualities, difficult to obtain
in the same person, to act as agent with the army. Gregory was exactly
the man required, and he was soon on excellent terms, both with the
officers of the quartermaster's department, and the contractors who
brought in the cargoes of cattle.
As soon as the bulk of the army sailed from Alexandria to Ismailia, he
made the latter town his headquarters; and by his power of work, his
tact and good temper, he smoothed away all the difficulties that so
often arise between contractors and army officials, and won the
goodwill of all with whom he came in contact. When the army removed to
Cairo, after the defeat and dispersal of Arabi's force at Tel-el-Kebir,
Gregory established himself there, and was joined by his wife and
child.
As soon as matters settled down, and a considerable portion of the
troops had left Egypt, Mr. Ross said to him:
"Of course, our operations in the future will be comparatively small,
Mr. Hilliard, and I must reduce my staff."
"I quite understand that," Gregory replied, "and I knew that I should
have to look out for something else."
"I shall be very sorry to lose your services, which have indeed been
invaluable, and I am sure have been appreciated, by the army men as
much as by myself. I certainly should not think of your leaving me,
until you get another berth; and it is only because I see an opening,
if you like to take it, that might lead to something better, in the
future, than anything I can offer you.
"You know that Colonel Hicks arrived here, a fortnight since, and is to
take command of the Egyptian army, and to have the rank of pasha.
Several officers have received appointments on his staff. He will
shortly be going up to Khartoum. I was speaking to him yesterday, and
as I was doing so, two of the officers of Wolseley's staff came in. A
question of supplies came up, and I mentioned your name, and said that
I thought that you were the very man for him, that you were master of
Arabic, and an excellent organizer; and, a very important matter where
there were so few English officers together, a gentleman.
"One of the officers, who knew the work that you had done, at once
confirmed what I had said, and declared that Wolseley's quartermaster
general would speak as warmly in your favour. Hicks told me that, until
he got up to Khartoum, he could not say what arrangements would be made
for the supplies; but that he would, at any rate, be very glad to have
you with him, in the capacity of a first-class interpreter, and for
general service with the staff, with the temporary rank of captain;
with the special view of your services in organizing a supply train,
when he moved forward. I said that I should speak to you, and ascertain
your views."
"I am very much obliged to you, indeed. I must take twenty-four hours
to think it over. Of course I shall be guided, to some extent, by the
question whether the appointment would be likely to be a permanent
one."
"That I have no doubt. Indeed, Hicks said as much. I asked him the
question, and he replied, 'I can hardly make a permanent appointment
now, as I am not quite in the saddle; but I have no doubt, from what
you say, that Mr. Hilliard will make a valuable officer; and after our
first campaign I shall, without difficulty, be able to obtain him a
permanent appointment in the Egyptian army.'"
"I thank you, most heartily, Mr. Ross. It seems to me a grand opening.
There is no doubt that, as our troops leave, the Egyptian army will be
thoroughly reorganized; and there will be many openings for a man who
knows the language, and is ready to work hard; and, no doubt, the
regiments will be largely officered by Englishmen."
That evening, Gregory had a long talk with his wife.
"I don't like the thought of leaving you, even for a time; but no
doubt, when the Mahdi is settled with, you will be able to join me at
Khartoum; which, I believe, is by no means an unpleasant place to live
in. Of course, I shall come down and take you up. It is a splendid
chance, and will really be my reinstatement. Once holding a commission
in the Egyptian army, I should resume my own name, and have the future
to look forward to. Entering the service as the army is being
reorganized, I should have a great pull, and should be sure to get on,
and be able to write to my father and brother, without its appearing
that I wanted help of any kind."
There were tears in Mrs. Hilliard's eyes, but she said bravely:
"I quite agree with you, Gregory. Of course, I shall be sorry that you
should leave me, even for a time; but it seems to me, too, that it is a
grand opportunity. You know what a pain it was to me, all the time that
we were at Alexandria, that you should be working in such a subordinate
position. Now there is an opening by which you will be in a position,
ere long, more worthy of your birth and education. I have no doubt I
shall get on very well, here. I believe that Hicks Pasha has brought
his wife out with him here; and some of his officers will, no doubt, be
married men also; and as the wife of one of his officers I shall, of
course, get to know them. I should be selfish, indeed, to say a word to
keep you back, and shall be delighted to think of you associating with
other English gentlemen, as one of themselves."
And so it was settled. The next day, Gregory called on Hicks Pasha. The
latter had made some more enquiries respecting him, and was well
pleased with his appearance.
"I have already a gentleman named as staff interpreter, Mr. Hilliard,
but I can appoint you, at once, interpreter to the quartermaster's
department, attached to my personal staff for the present. I can tell
you that the Egyptian army will be largely increased, and I shall be
able, after a time, to procure you a better appointment. When we have
once defeated the Mahdi, and restored order, there will be many
appointments open for the reorganization of the Soudan. There are a
good many preparations to be made, before I leave, which I expect to do
in the course of three or four weeks; and I shall be glad of your
assistance, as soon as you can join us."
"I shall be glad to do so, at once. Mr. Ross has kindly told me that I
am at liberty to resign my post, under him, as soon as I like."
"Very well, then. You may consider yourself appointed, today. My
intention is to go first to Suakim, and thence up to Berber, and so by
water to Khartoum."
The next three weeks passed rapidly. Gregory was, on the following day,
introduced to the various officers of Hicks Pasha's staff; and, on
learning that he was married, the general asked him and his wife to
dinner, to make the acquaintance of Lady Hicks, and the wives of three
of his fellow officers.
At last, the time came for parting. Annie bore up well; and although,
when alone, she had many a cry, she was always cheerful, and went with
her husband and saw him off, at the station of the railway for
Ismailia, without breaking down badly.