I took my position behind a white-ant hill in front of a stream which
rippled in a hollow about forty yards beneath me.
Molodi had quite recovered from the wound he had received on 2nd August,
and he carried the basket that contained our luncheon. This consisted of
three bottles of milk and a few hard-boiled eggs, with a supply of salt
and pepper.
There is nothing so good as milk for support during a long day's work,
provided it is used with water, in a proportion of one-third milk. A
bottle of rich milk will therefore produce three bottles of wholesome
drink. This is far preferable to the use of spirits, which are merely a
temporary stimulant, and frequently are great enemies to good
rifle-shooting.
Molodi's basket was arranged with a white napkin over the contents. As
such a colour would attract attention, I ordered him to conceal himself
and his basket behind a neighbouring ant-hill.
Mr. Baker was far away on my right; and Abd-el-Kader was upon the
extreme right flank.
Everything was ready, and men had already been stationed at regular
intervals about two miles to windward, where they waited with their
fire-stick for the appointed signal.
