176 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



The fighters passed and the calabash was emptied and filled 

 up again before the number was told of the men that would 

 follow him. Those that^held back, he left with*Nyebe at 

 Dikwa, and on the next day with 5000 men and three guns 

 marched for Kusseri and throwing out a screen of horsemen, 

 stockaded a position some three miles below the town. 



On April 21 Gentil and the Baghirmi Sultan, Gaourand, with 

 800 of his men arrived from Fort Archambault and effected 

 a junction with the other two French forces under Major 

 Lamy, bringing their strength up to 774 rifles, three field- 

 and one machine-gun and the 800 native levies. The sudden 

 appearance of Gentil upon the scene came as a surprise to 

 Rabeh, for he had received false news of the former's position. 

 He at once sent back messengers to order the rest of his 

 forces at Dikwa to come to his assistance, telling them to ride 

 their horses to death if need be in the endeavour. Meanwhile, 

 Gentil, whose men had arrived tired out with hard marching, 

 councilled Major Lamy to postpone his attack. But Lamy 

 did not take his advice, but decided to attack the next day, 

 and there is not a doubt his prompt action averted disaster 

 for the French. 



It was in the early morning of April 22 that the French 

 force advanced on the position where Rabeh had chosen to 

 await their attack. His army was breakfasting when the news 

 came to him, but he did not let it disturb his calm and 

 ordered the men to finish their meal before making ready 

 to fight. The French kept advancing firing heavily but 

 receiving no response. Rabeh's aim was to make his 

 enemy expend as much ammunition as possible before the 

 attack was developed, and then launch a counter attack 



