My men cut two forked poles, upon which they lashed a horizontal
bar, which supported a camp-sheet to protect her from rain or dew. A
pile of long green grass was laid on the ground beneath, upon which was
stretched a mackintosh camp-sheet, and a good thick blanket.
We had been most fortunate in having only a loss of one killed and two
wounded since we left Masindi.
My men had fired away an enormous amount of ammunition during the march,
as they appeared to become more and more nervous as they advanced. Every
thick clump of reeds that rose a few feet higher than the surrounding
grass was supposed to conceal an enemy, and it was immediately raked by
a hot fire from the advance-guard.
On 16th June, the night having passed quietly, we started at 6.30 A.M.,
and marched silently.
There was a curious feeling upon first waking in the morning, when we
rose and buckled on the ammunition-belts. Every one was aware that his
nerves must be upon the stretch, and that his finger must be ready for
the trigger, from the commencement till the end of the march, to act
against unseen enemies.
Upon arrival at a stream in a muddy bottom, we were immediately attacked
by a strong force in ambuscade.
