Soon the Arabs began to open fire on us from behind the huts, and a
very accurate fire it was, as our casualties quickly showed,
notwithstanding the stone /schanzes/ we had constructed. The worst
feature of the thing also was that we could not reply with any effect,
as our assailants, who gradually worked nearer, were effectively
screened by the huts, and we had not enough guns to attempt organised
volley firing. Although I tried to keep a cheerful countenance I
confess that I began to fear the worst and even to wonder if we could
possibly attempt to retreat. This idea was abandoned, however, since
the Arabs would certainly overtake and shoot us down.
One thing I did. I persuaded Babemba to send about fifty men to build
up the southern gate, which was made of trunks of trees and opened
outwards, with earth and the big stones that lay about in plenty.
While this was being done quickly, for the Mazitu soldiers worked at
the task like demons and, being sheltered by the palisade, could not
be shot, all of a sudden I caught sight of four or five wisps of smoke
that arose in quick succession at the north end of the town and were
instantly followed by as many bursts of flame which leapt towards us
in the strong wind.
Pages:
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566