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They had an extremely heavy march, and did not arrive at their destination till night. The carriers returned to Bekwai the next day, so as to be ready to march out at daylight, on the 30th, with the second column. The troops at Pekki being in enforced idleness, half of them marched out to attack the enemy's war camp, which had for so long threatened Pekki.
On the 31st of July a runner arrived, from Pekki, stating that the town was going to be attacked in force, the next evening, as a punishment for the assistance it had rendered the white men. Major Melliss was accordingly ordered to proceed thither the following morning with two guns, a Hausa company with a Maxim, and a column of carriers.
The place was found to be evacuated, and it and the bush camps on the way were all burnt. The second column had now well started. The downfall of rain continued without intermission, and the roads became worse than ever. The day after the first column left Pekki, Colonel Brake started with eight hundred men and two guns.
"By the beard of God's prophet!" thundered Rustum Khan, "who gave camp-followers the right to impose advice?" "They are in league with highwaymen to lead you into a trap!" Ibrahim answered. Rustum Khan rattled the saber that lay on the rock beside him. "I am hunting for fear," he said. "All my life I have hunted for fear and never found it!" "Pekki!" said Ibrahim dryly. The word means "very well."
The general plan was to send up all the stores, carriers, and troops via Pekki, as had been done on both previous occasions.
The choice therefore remained of making the assault upon these, and then returning through Pekki; or of leaving them and going back by the main road, the route laid down in their instructions. Neither of these plans was satisfactory, for each left half the programme undone. It was suggested that a night attack might be attempted.
The column was a terribly long one, owing to the enormous number of invalids, wounded, women, and children. They halted for the night at the village halfway to Pekki. The villages on the road were all burnt down, to prevent opposition next time we passed; and all crops were destroyed. This work the soldiers quite enjoyed.
The road was practically an unbroken swamp, and the fatigue and discomfort of the journey were consequently terrible. The Ordah river was in flood, and had to be crossed on a felled tree. The distance to Pekki, the last Bekwai village, was fifteen miles.
Continued explosions occurred during the burning of the huts, showing how large an amount of ammunition the natives possessed. Next night they arrived at Pekki. The king had prepared a market, so that the starving force got a more substantial supper than usual. Here the column was to divide.
The Ju-ju house, which was the scene of the native incantations, was pulled down, and the sacred trees felled. The enemy, however, were not discouraged; but hung upon the rear, keeping up a constant fire. Some of them proceeded to attack the Pekki people.
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