Colonial Games: Safari to the Psgheti, Page 2

Part Two
Safari to the Psgheti
A Pleasant Outing Spoiled before Lunch

Continued from Part One

The German troopers fire into the British, and for the first time, the hunters fire their heavy rifles (though the hill provides cover for the elephants, the howdahs are visible over the crest). The German fire is effective; two sepoys and one native drop. Then the elephants move out, with the troopers driving the unarmed bearers before them at bayonet point. Von Strickland remains behind long enough to empty his broomhandle Mauser in the direction of Capt. Marvell.

Suddenly, a herd of antelope, fleeing the approaching beaters, breaks from the forest to the British left. Their springing stampede blocks the fire of the imperial troopers. Capt. Marvell is alarmed and redeploys to the left to face the natives he expects to see following on the heels of the driven game.

As the sepoys reload, the mahouts goad the elephants into a run. The loaders put freshly charged rifles into the hunters' hands and they fire from the lurching howdahs, causing more casualties among the natives and sepoys. But the strain on the harnesses is great, and the lead elephant's howdah comes loose, flinging its occupants to the ground. Mehmet Wuwoob struggles to his feet, but Gil Baetz and the loader lie contorted, their bodies broken on the hard earth. In spite of his entreaties, the elephants continue their pounding run past the dazed slaver.

Despite Capt. Marvell's instructions to take the hunters alive, the Nyuk Nyuk have a score to settle. They hurl their spears at the bearers, then mob Mehmet. The slaver's bodyguard is not close enough. He fires his musket at Mgumbi, laying the great warrior out with a close-range shot to the head, but Mehmet Wuwoob is pierced by two thrusting spears and falls in a heap, his infamous career over forever.

Now Capt. Marvell rues his redeployment as a pair of wildebeest charge from the forest ahead of the beaters, thundering squarely into the British line. Sgt. Millstone and and the troopers manage to dodge as the beasts pound through, but the line is shaken and in disarray.

The Captain looks around and assesses the situation. The sepoys are dropping back to the jungle edge under the hunters' fire, and the natives are in combat with the bearers far in his rear. The line of elephants has already turned toward the neck of jungle. He decides the threat from the beaters is now inconsequential, and resolves to take his men down the clear trail to the river and cut Bill's elephants off at the ford. But the jungle has one last hand to deal to the Fusiliers...

At the head of the trail, the undergrowth rustles, and the fearsome Ouargi tiger, panicked from the pounding behind him, roars out of the jungle, and leaps toward troopers Fyne and Howard, who barely have time to turn their rifles toward the snarling beast for a panicked shot. The tiger is hit, but not stopped, and as Howard backs hurriedly away, the great cat pounces, claw and fang against steel bayonet.
Marvell decides there is not time for the unit to wear down the beast in melee; the mission must come first. "Bloody 'Ell! We can't just leave 'im!" thunders Sgt. Millstone, as he sees the Captain bypassing Howard and ordering the men down the trail. "Move now, Sergeant!" roars Marvell in reply, and the unit moves off, leaving Howard to his fate. "I'll nominate him for a posthumous VC," thinks Marvell to himself.

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Safari to the Psgheti

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