FALSE ALARMS 37 



nately O'Connell is not easily alarmed. The invaluable 

 sheikh Thagi is incredulous, so, as a compromise to 

 the urgent appeal for help, we halt where we are while 

 word is sent to Whittingham's Company from Bara 

 to fall back on El Obeid. 



The story of the alarm is this. Captain Massey, left 

 in command at El Obeid, is down with fever, when, 

 at about 2 a.m., he hears the unmistakable sound of 

 troops doubling. He dashes out to see his surmise 

 confirmed. An excited official pours a tale into his 

 ear, which convinces him that, pending confirmation, 

 the one important thing is to establish and maintain, 

 as long as possible, telegraphic communication with 

 Khartum, and the second to get the news out to the 

 outlying troops before such action is rendered too 

 dangerous. He does so, and all stand to arms till 

 dawn, when the only armed people about besides the 

 garrison are seen to be the returning Camel Corps — 

 Whittingham had not waited for orders. As the sentry 

 and guard who raised the alarm stick to their story 

 — that they fired on a force of Hawazma horsemen — 

 Whittingham takes a horse and gallops round the 

 outer defences. He finds no tracks to bear out this 

 story, but, near the guard, finds those of the pet kudu, 

 who, it turns out, is the cause of the alarm. 



The local intelligence department report all quiet, 

 and we pursue our journey. 



Those in Khartum have not been idle. A squadron 

 of cavalry, a section of artillery, and a battalion of 

 Egyptian infantry have been hastily mobilised, and in 

 spite of reassuring messages are sent to El Obeid, as it 



