Binky and the Hyena Trail (Part 2)

At the Water Hole - Ramsden's Journal

It was hot.  Very hot.  The morning had been hot when we arose before the sun and breakfasted on a spiced stew made from dried gazelle.  Then it was all fuss and orderly packing for Binky wanted us well underway before the sun crossed the horizon.  It was now normal practice and we were accustomed to this.  All were prepared early and we had advanced about 3 miles before sun arose. 

Our formation was the prepared for any hostile attack with Piet in the centre front, Dodgy on the right, Gerald on the left with the bearers in the centre and Binky brining up the rear ready to deploy our Nordenfelt at a moment’s notice against any attacker.  Ahead of us trotted Dodgy’s two hunters who were acting as scouts.  In the dawn light we could see ahead of us a low flat topped hillock and beyond it the Arab’s dust cloud lit by the rays of the rising sun.  Today Binky intended to cross the trail of the Arabs to see if he could glean any information from the tracks or any runaways.

Just to our right we were being watched by some oryx and Binky sent out Wotmiwori with a couple of bearers who were good shots with their bows.  In a few minutes they had slain two of the beasts and we paused a short while as the carcasses were brought in and set on carrying poles.  Lunch and dinner looked promising as we topped a rise to see two ponds amid some trees just ahead with even more game grazing there.  Zebra, gnu and giraffe were abundant and moved off ahead of us.  Suddenly from a thicket on our left wandered a rhino.  We gave it plenty of room and it ignored us.  Fortunately so for Binky had forbidden firing except in extreme danger in case we alerted the slavers. 

As it was approaching midday, Binky decided to halt by the water holes in the shade of the trees.  Gerald pointed out the Red Fever Trees and suggested that we avoid them.  While the bearers went to set up the midday meal we patrolled the area to ensure that we were not being watched.  

The quiet was shattered by a gunshot.  Dodgy cried out, “Who fired that?  I’ll have his guts for garters!”  He suspected that someone had let off a shot accidentally.  Almost immediately another shot was fired and an askari fell wounded.  Someone was firing at us.  “Watch for the smoke!”  But there was no smoke.  More and more firing to our left.  Gerald moved over to assist the two askaris who were shooting at a couple of Arabs in the bushes.  Piet set up the rocket tube in case.  The massed firepower killed the two Arabs.

Just as Gerald moved forward his party came under fire from the bushes on a small rise to one flank.  The first Arab volley felled an askari.  After taking cover the askaris laid down suppressing fire until the Arab riflemen were silenced. 

Binky went on ahead.  He was cautious expecting at any moment to be fired on so he set the Nordenfelt to cover the rocks to his right where some movement had been spotted.  He went forward using dead ground to conceal his movement as he flanked the rocks.  He intended to launch an attack from the side.  As he went up between the hillocks he passed some rocks.  Immediately he passed the rocks two shots hit the earth at his feet.  Immediately, Wotmiwori and the native spearman charged screaming their war cries.   Again the Arabs fired and again their shots missed.  This was the last thing that they did.  Our two spearmen killed them with a single thrust each.  Excellent fellows!

Binky flanked the next two riflemen and ordered the charge.  The Arabs fired crippling an askari.  The Arabs fell in a hail of bullets from the Nodenfelt and died under the bayonets of the askaris. 

The positions that had been occupied by the eight Arabs were checked but only six rifles recovered.  At least one Arab had escaped.  A strange thing about the bodies caused us some wonderment.  Every one of them had their right ankle tied to their thighs so they could not run.  Even stranger was that the knots were on top and could easily have been released but they chose not to.  Hassan told us later that this was a sign of determination to hold their ground to the last.  He had only seen it once before in the days of the rise of the Mahdi.  Now that the Mahdi was dead and the Khalifa was in power now and it seems that the practice continues.  Perhaps these Arabs are of the same sort as the Dervish Ansar of the Mahdi?  If so then our troubles in fighting these heathen warriors are likely to be great.  For they are implacable and indefatigable foes!

After a break during the hottest part of the day and a meal of fresh oryx meat we resumed our march.  Binky was set on checking the top of the hillock and seeing if he could see the main Arab caravan from there.  As we approached, Gerald called out that he could see something on the top.   Binky, ever cautious, sent out scouts to the flanks to spoil any flanking attack.  On our right a pride of lions slowed our approach but they were well fed and lazily showed only curiosity.  Behind us the hyenas feasted on the dead Arabs. 

Binky, himself, took the dangerous right flank route behind the rock outcrop while the main body went around the left.  Suddenly the Arab war cry “Alahu Akbar!” rang out.  We braced for a charge but only one brave man charged out and though he fought hard he was cut down in a savage spear and sword fight by our stalwarts Wotmiworri and Gurli Pinqpantz. 

At the foot of the outcrop lay the body of an Arab in whose pack were 12 gourds filled with an evil smelling compound.  It was naptha!  The fellow must have been a naffatun.  One who makes incendiaries.  This was a useful addition to our dwindling arsenal.

Mahmoud and Erwin quickly ascended the rocks like a pair of mountain goats and hauled up the others.  On the top they found the remains of a camp site and a tattered tent.  Gerald and Hassan had a field day investigating the remains of a camp fire long unused and some detritus including a stoppered but empty schnapps bottle embossed J.A. Gilka, Schützen Str No.9 Berlin and a worn leather case containing unused bottles of Blood Food, Blood Purifier & Consumption Cure.  Underneath the bottles in the case is a bulky envelope addressed in bold Germanic script to Fraulein Heidi Truve, Charlottenstrasse Nr 345, Berlin.  It is dated 4 Juni 1883 (5 years ago).  There is also a note in German, French and English.  “Kind Sir, please forward this letter to my daughter in Berlin.  I am sure that she will reward your efforts if you seek her out.  Doktor Findiger Truve.”

The envelope contained, and Gerald in the heat of the moment read it.  It was a letter to Heidi telling her what to do with the family property and answering a few questions that must have been asked in an earlier letter. 

 

There was also this summary:

5 mai: Heinrik, Lothar and I left Mariba with 30 porters and 11 askaris for the Hyena Trail and then on to the fabled land of Mophir.  All is well.

9 mai:  One bearer killed by marauding lion last night.  Shot lion today and morale much improved.

11 mai: lost two food containers crossing a river today.  The porters lost their footing and were drowned. 

12 mai: raided last night by tribesmen. 3 porters killed, 2 wounded and 5 fled.  A lot of stores lost but the long poles and rods for the cage are still intact.  Had to make up a story why we are carrying them.

17 mai:  another raid last night but we were ready.  I had armed the porters.  After the fight only 1 porter and 1 askari killed. 

18 mai:  good progress today shot game and feasted.  Will rest tomorrow.

21 mai:  well rested and moved on today.  Porters grumbling about carrying the rods.

25 mai:  we are being followed by some tribesmen.  Kept them at a distance by shooting some.

27 mai:  4 porters deserted overnight and 3 wounded died over the last few days.  No game since 18 mai.  Tribesmen driving them away.

28 mai:  the cowardly blacks!  4 askaris and 7 porters deserted and we were attacked by a strong party of spearmen.  Only 2 askaris wounded and 21 hostiles bodies found around the zariba.

1 juni:  Celebrated your birthday with a rest day.

2 juni:  Hostiles attacked all day.  Boys and some girls shooting arrows from the thorn thickets.  Arrow in my leg is very painful.  Crossed Hyena Trail today.  A runaway from the slavers joined us this afternoon.   

4 juni:  Lothar and Heinrik took me to the top of a small outcrop.  We can see the mountains in the distance.  Left this and a letter for you.  Hoping that someone will come this way and send it to you.  We go on tomorrow.  1 runaway slave, 6 askaris and 14 porters left.  We still have the poles and rods for the cage.  Going to rescue some slaves and hope to use them as porters.

 From the top, the dust of three lots of people could be seen.  The smallest was about 7 miles away to the south west and another was about 10 miles distant to the west.  The largest was below the horizon so about 14 or more miles away slightly north of west. 

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