While we hesitated, things were marvellously
solved. We traced their progress by thedegradation of the telegraph. Abdulla found
grain:also flour; and some little booty of weapons, horses, ornaments. Our soldiers
could see Deraa, Mezerib and Ghazale,the three key-stations, with their naked
eyes.
The blockhouse surrendered at the same
moment.
Nuriput his Hotchkiss gunners in the rock cracks,
and rattled back at them.
Nuri agreed to cover my movements to the bridge as
well as he could.
We mightcapture this before attacking the great
bridge below Tell el Shehab.
Their very numbers hindered them but of course the
affaircould have only one ending. Abdulla found grain:also flour; and some little
booty of weapons, horses, ornaments.
Everyonehelped to clear it at speed, while Junor
was being driven lower.
Nuriput his Hotchkiss gunners in the rock cracks,
and rattled back at them. Hethrew us a message to say his petrol was finished. Their
camels, in bleeding masses, struggled on theground. Thiswould be a generous reading
of Allenbys three men and a boy withpistols. While we hesitated, things were
marvellously solved. Visitors were our eyes, and had to be welcomed.
Things looked and sounded hot, but the Egyptians
went on working asmethodically as they had eaten. Asusual when I lay down I dropped
asleep, and slept till afternoon.
Nuri agreed to cover my movements to the bridge as
well as he could. Thetrifle showed how much my nerve was on edge. He took ground
beautifully,but the wind puffed across once more.
There were machine-guns galore, and sentries
patrolling theapproaches with ceaseless energy. Things looked and sounded hot, but
the Egyptians went on working asmethodically as they had eaten.
I rushed down, to findPeakes Egyptians making
breakfast.
We had hardwork to assure him of our enlightenment.
Nuri put, as thecondition of cease-fire, their instant ejectment of the Turks from
thehouses. Nuri pointed out that delay at Mezerib might lose us thebridge, a greater
objective. Tulips had been invented by Peakeand myself for this occasion.
Fortunately everythingwent well, and after an hour Nuri gave me my
signal.
Pisani cocked up his four mountain guns, and let
fly some optimisticshrapnel.
Yet more were strewn in wreckage on the ground.