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Updated: June 12, 2025
What he meant was that a rhinoceros had cut across the bush path not so very long ago, as the freshly trampled grass showed. "All right," replied Wilmshurst. "Warn the men to be on the alert. We don't want casualties." Bela Moshi hurried to the head of the column, for the Haussas were in single file, owing to the narrowness of the bush-path.
A puff of smoke rose from behind a bush at a distance of half a mile, and almost immediately following the sharp crack of a rifle a bullet "knocked spots" off the effigy. Without hesitation twenty or more Haussas let fly in the direction of the puff of smoke. "What are you aiming at, men?" shouted the major. The score of blacks grinned unanimously.
We entered by the sentry-guarded great gate into the courtyard; on the right hand were the rest of the guard; most of them asleep on their mats, but a few busy saying Dhikr, etc., towards Mecca, like the good Mohammedans these Haussas are, others winding themselves into their cummerbunds.
Like well-trained dogs the two native soldiers obeyed, and with their rifles still slung they hastened towards the position occupied by the alert Haussas, passing between two clumps of cacti behind which were hiding Tari Barl, No Go, Double-headed Penny and two more of No. 1 Section. The Haussas let them pass.
Their whole attention was directed towards their men, for the Haussas, on hearing the gun-fire, impetuously made a rush on deck not by reason of panic but out of the deep curiosity that is ever to the fore in the minds of West African natives to a far greater extent than in the case of Europeans. Next morning the Ponto was nowhere to be seen.
Most of the Haussas, utterly worn out, were sleeping in easy yet undignified postures upon the ground, the only men keeping awake being Bela Moshi and the other section commander and sentries posted before Wilmshurst gave the word to stand easy. Even the subaltern found his head drooping.
Duke, the acting commissioner lately invalided, were sent abroad in all directions to act press-gang, and the natural lawlessness of the race came out strong. The force is injured by enlisting 'Haussas' who are not Haussa at all; merely semi-savage and half-pagan slaves. On detached duty they get quite out of hand; and they by no means serve to make our Government popular.
Followed a long period of inaction on the part of the Haussas. Scarce daring to move lest a keen-eyed Askari should detect their presence, the Waffs hugged the sun-baked earth until the lengthening shadows warned them of the approach of night. The distant firing had passed from rapid volleys through desultory exchange of shots to a complete cessation.
Ordinarily he would have lighted three or four at a distance of five or six yards from each other, and thus found comparative immunity from the attacks of lions and hippos, but the baobab it reminded him of a certain incident when he was "attached" to the Haussas was able to protect both rear and flank from the voracious assaults of any four-footed creatures.
By means of native scouts the Germans had learnt of the approach of the relieving forces, and without waiting to exchange shots the former had effected a prompt and skilfully-conducted retirement. Accompanied by one of the Haussas Wilmshurst hastened to inform his commanding officer of the state of affairs. On the way he found big Spofforth with the advance-guard.
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