The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-08
The Debut OF Bimbashi Joyce
Uapyng ~ A. CONAN


of Mahdism, which had swept in such
u flood from the great lakes and Oar
fur to the confines of Egypt, had al
last come to it's full, and even begun,
as some hoped, to show signs OF q
turn At it's outset it had been ter
rible 1t had engulfed Hicks army,
swept over Gordon and khartoum
rolled behind the British forces as
they retired down the river, and fin
ally cast up a spray of raiding par
ties as far north as Assouan. Then
il found other channels to east and
to west, to Central Africa and to Abys-
sinia, and retired a little on the side
of Egypt.
For ten years there ensued a lull
during which the frontier garrisons
looked out upon those distant blue
hills of Dongola. Behind the violet
mists which draped them, lay a land
of blood and horror. From time to
time some adventurer went south to-
ward these haZegirt mountains
tempted by stories of gum and ivory.
but none ever returned. Once a mu-
tilated Egyptian and once a Greek wo-
man. mad with thirst and fear, made
theirs way to the lines. They were
the only exports of that country OF
darkness. Sometimes the sunset would
turn those distant miStS into q bank
of crimson, and the dark mountains
would rise from that sinister reek like
islands in a sea of blood. 1t seemed
a grim symbol in the southern heaven
when seen from the fort-capped hills
by Wady Halfa.
Ten years of lust in khartoum, ten
years of silent work in Cairo, and
then all was ready, and it was time
for civilization to take a trip south
once more, travelling as her wont is
in an armOred train. Everything was
ready, down to the last pack saddle
of the last camel, and yet no one sus-
pected it, for an unconstitutional
Government has its advantages. A
great administrator had argued, and
managed, and cajoled; a great soldier
had organized and planned, and made
piastres do the work of pounds. And
then one night these two master spir
it's met and clasped hands, and the
soldier vanished away upon some
business of his own.
And just at that very time Bim-
bashi Hilary Joyce, seconded from
the Royal Mallow Fusiliers and tenn
poraHly attached to the Ninth Sou
danese, made his first appearance in
Cairo.
Napoleon had said, and Hilary Joyce
had noted, that great regulations are
only to be made in the East. Here
he was in the East with four tin cases
of baggage, a Wilkinson sword, a
Bonds slug-throwing pistol and a
copy of Green's Introduction to the
Study of Arabic" With such start
andNthe blood of youth running hot
in his veins, everything seemed easy.
He was a little frightened of the gem
eral; he had heard stories of his stern
ness to young officers, but with tact
and suavity he hoped for the best. So,
leaving his effects at Shepherds Ho-
tel, he reported himself at headquar-
terS.
1t was not the general, but the head
of the Intelligence Department, who
received him, the chief being still alb
sent upon that business which had
called him. Hilary Joyce found him
self in the presence of short, thick
set officer, with a gentle voice and a
placid expression, which covered a
remarkably acute and energetic man
ner. He had undercut and Outwitted
the most cunning of Orientals. He
stood, a cigarette between his fingers
looking at the newcomer.
81 heard that you had come. Sorry
the chief isn't here to see you. Gone
UP to the frontier, you know"
My regiment is at Wady Halfa. ]
suppose, sir, that / should report my
self there at Once?'
mo; / was to give you your orders.
He led~the way to a map upon the
wall and pointed with the end of his
cigarette. you see this place? It's
the Oasis of Kurkur-a little quiet
] am afraid, but excellent air. You
are to get out there as quick as pos
sible. You'll find a company of the
Ninth and Il half squadron of ca
valry You will be in command
Hilary Joyce looked at the name,
printed at the intersection of two
black lines, without another dot upon
the map for several inches arr la1 il.
"A village, sir?"
mo, a we'll. Not very good "; Ter.
I'm afraid but you soon get Gccustom-
ed to natron. It's an important pos t.
as being at the junction Of t%c cara
van routes. All routes ~" o.nsed &c V,
of course, but still you never IN, W
who might come along thea"
1--WE are there, | presume to pre-
vent raiding?"
well, between you and me, there's
really nothing to raid. You are ,htIe
to intercept messengers. They must
call at the wells OF course you have
only just come out, but you probably
understand alrea 1y enough .blut the
conditions of .his country Il tnCW
that there is great deal of disatfec-
ton about, and that the Khalifa is
likely to try and keep in touch with
lives up that way'--he waved his eli
Garette to the westward--"the Khali-
ia might send a message to him. along
that route. Anyhow, your duty is
to arrest every one coming along and
get some account of him before you
let him go. You don't talk Arabic, /
SUPPOSE
Il am learning. sir
''Well. well, you'd have time enough
for study there. And you'll have a
native officer, Ali something or other,
who speaks English, and can inter-
pref for you. Well, goodby-I'll tell
the chief that you reported yourself.
Get on to your post now as quickly
as you can"
Railway to Baliani, the post boat to
Assouan, and then two days on a
camel in the Libyan Desert with an
Ababdeh guide, and three baggage
camelS to tie one down to their own
exasperating pace. However, even two
and q half miles an hour mount IN
in time, and at last, on the third
evening, for the blackened slag-heap
of hill which is called the Jebel
Kurkur, Hilary Joyce looked down
upon a distant clump of palms, and
thought that this cool patch of green