174 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



spared till his actions afterwards belied the answer which 

 the interpreter had made and Rabeh commanded that he 

 should be beheaded. 



After the battle of Togbau Rabeh retired to Kouno, which 

 he put into a state of defence. 



In October Gentil again advanced from Fort Archambault 

 or Tounia with a force of 344 rifles, four guns and a steam 

 launch carrying two guns. 



On the 29th he attacked Rabeh, whose army numbered 

 some 3000 rifles and three guns. The battle was hard fought 

 and there were heavy losses on both sides. 



In the thick of the fight, Gentil seeing pale-faced men 

 serving Rabeh's guns and believing them to be his renegade 

 fellow countrymen Voulet and Chanoine, offered instant 

 promotion to his gunners if they succeeded in shooting them 

 down. This they did, but it was found out afterwards that 

 the men were Tripoli Arabs. 



The battle of Kouno very nearly ended in a disaster for 

 the French. Rabeh, who was taken by surprise had only 

 half his force with him and sent for reinforcements, but before 

 they could come up Gentil had wisely retreated, after having 

 fought for eight hours and expended nearly all his ammu- 

 nition. During the battle Rabeh was wounded in the leg. 

 Before that, he had decided to make a counter attack, which 

 probably would have decided the day in his favour, but he 

 was prevented from carrying out his intention by his high 

 priest, who, throwing himself down and clinging to Rabeh's 

 knees, implored him to desist and remember the prophecy that 

 he should die in the seventh year of his rule. And Rabeh 

 heard him for it was now time for the prediction to come true. 



