The blow fell on my neck, which ever since has been so
stiff and swollen that it is impossible to turn it round. The rest of
the party saw me fall.
"As soon as I got up, I dealt this man a blow in the face with the
handle of my whip which staggered him, but my whip flew out of my hand
and left me entirely unarmed. I must inevitably have been murdered but
for the cool and prompt assistance of Lieut. Kitchener, who managed to
get to me and engaged one of the clubmen, covering my retreat.
"A blow descending on the top of his head he parried with a cane, which
was broken by the force of the blow. A second wounded his arm. His
escape is unaccountable. Having retired a few paces from the thick of
the fray, I saw that the Moslems were gradually surrounding us,
stealing behind trees and through vineyards, and I well understood that
in such a case, unless the soldiers arrived at once, we must all die.
Many of the servants had indeed already given up hope, though no one
fled. I gave the order to leave the tents and fly round the hill.
"Lieut. Kitchener was the last to obey this order, being engaged in
front. He retreated to his tent, and whilst running he was fired at,
and heard the bullet whistle by his head. He was also followed for
some short distance by a man with a huge scimitar, who subsequently
wounded with it more than one of our people.
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