With Kitchener in the Soudan : a story of Atbara and Omdurman Read online

  "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 ioubt 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 Avould 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 Ras-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 Avere 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 distui'bances 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 la?;t 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 plnce, 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 Jive 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 head-quarters, 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 head-quarters, 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 good-will 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 should 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."