AHMET.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 5, 16 April 1920, Page 6

AHMET.

(By 11/1275.)

A True Story of Life with the N.Z. Divisioit in Egypt.

MAHMOUD STARTS FOR MECCA.

CHAPTER Y. Abu Sulieman, professedly to prove his sanctity, but in reality to avoid the vengea-nce of Mahraoud, set out on his pilgrimage to the Kebla at Mecca. At least that was what he gave out in the bazaars but the sly old ruffian had in reality been the whole time in the pay of the Turks, and from information he had acquired during the time he had been attached to the forces as intexpreter, he knew that there was the probability of an attack by the Turks on the Suez CanaL From his Turki&h masters he aho knew that such attack was more imminent than was dreamed of by the British intelligence department. Thus he thought to cross the canal at Kantara, and by striking souih east towards Rodhsalem to get in touch with the advancing Turks, and hand over to them his latest informastion as to the strength and disposition of tlie British forces. To this end be proceeded to Salhieh by train, and stayed for three days with a kinsman, who procured him a camel, and obtained a quantity of provisions and dhourra- (camel food) in readiness for the journey across the desert.

Then on the fourth nighfc, accompanied by his kinsman, Abu Sulieman started at sunset for Kantara, taking caxe to avoid the signal and pilot stations and the railway station with its guard of Sikh soldiers. To the north of the pilot station they found a dahabea t^e crew of which for a small consideration set Abu Sulieman ! and his camel across the canal, his kinsman returning to salhieh. Abu, after returning thanks to Allah for bringing him so far on his journey, set the nose of his camel south-east and started for Rodhsalem. During this time Mahmaud had been by no means idle. Starting the day after Abu Sulieman, he followed the latter to Salhieh, liaving found out the old man's movements, through the good offices of some of his brother moghassils, for as says the proverb, "What shall be hid from the washers of the dead ? Shall not they know the going and the coming of all men ?" Sitting then in a corner of the Sok at Salhieh, drihking coffe, and pretending to be overcome with the fumes of hashish, he heard the kinsman of Abu Sulieman strike the bargain for Abu's camel. Now Mahmoud, although ignorant of modern geography, possessed what was common to all Arabs, a highly developed sense of direction, and he was well aware that the land route to Mecca did not run past Rodhsalem, but he also knew that there was a Turkish post there, ako he had heard the bazaar rumours as to a large army concentrating there to attack the Canal.

Thus, when Abu Sulieman and his kinsman started for Kantara Mahmoud followed them, keeping to the sleepers of the military railway. Abu's kinsman Ibrahim was returning to Salhieh, when his camel stopped dead beside a palm tree, after crossing the freshwater canal. There wasagracs rope across the track about breast high, which had checked the beast-, and on dismounting to remove the obstruction, Ibrahim felt a sharp pain in the back. He rolled over with a gasp and Mamoud te mogha^sil arose wiping a long and particularly nastylooking linife, which, after carefully wiping, he plaeed in his belt. He next heaved the body of the victim into the canal and removing the rope f^om across the track, he mounted the camel and, turning soutli, made off in the direction of Ismaila. The next morning, shortly after daybreak, he was at the British Commandant's office, with the news that a spy by name of Abu Sulieman was crossing the desert to Rodhsalem. Little time was losi in communicating with headquarters in Cairo, whence it was found that an interpreter nained Abu Sulieman was missing from his usual haunts, and a patrol of the "Bikanir Camel Corps was sent. across the desert in the direction of Rodhsalem with orders to intercept the «py if possible. The patrol was absent for three days, /hmng which time Mahmoud was kept in

custody. On the return of the patrol the Officer in Command reported that he had obtained touch with the Turkish advance guard some thirty kilos east of Rodhsalem, that they were too strong for hiai to push back in order to see what for ea lay behind, and that he had made all speed back to reporfc. He had seen no signs of Abu Sulieman, although two of his men had followed a camel track back and found that it started from the north of Kautara, and was fairly fresh, and that as the tracks led toward the Turkish force he had little doubt that the story told by Mah. moud was true and that the spy had succeeded in reaching the enemy. An aeroplane was sent out to reccnv noitre, and reported a strong Turkish force moving rapidly towards the canal, evidently with the intention of cutting it near Serapeum. At once all was orderly bustle and con« fusion. In a few hours troops arrived by trains from Suez, Alexandria, and Cairo and were moved to the threatened zone, Before daybreak of the next day they were dug in on the west bank of the canal. All this time our hero, Ahmet, ha-d been with the Umpteenth Aussies, and each day had made him more familiar with military life until with the easy adaptability of the young he was to all intents and purposes quite what he caHed a "deeiv koom soger." At last Ahmet asked when the sham fight would begin, and they laughed and said that it was a real fight this time, and that it. was a dinkum war, and not at all a bad old war after all. Then the regiments began to mareh away. Tommies, New Zealanders, and Aussies, Scotties with their kilts and swart Ghurkas with their kookries at their sides. At last the TJmpteenths moved oS, and Ahmet in the confusion managed to secret himself on the train. It is quite true that no one had given kim permission to go, but then no mo had given Rim a thought, or he wouli rcrtr.mlv have been left behind.

He was cunning enough to keep hidden till the trocpe detrained at Serapeum, wnen he slipped off in the darkness, and waited till daylight to join his company. The next morning he made his way to the canal and reported that Sergt. Mackenzie had rejoined. The "skipper" had no means of sending him back to Helmeih, and was too busy to worry about him, and after rating him for coming without permission, sent him to the company cook to get some food. The men were at breakfast when Ahmet arrived, and were deliglited to find that their mascot had followed them, Ahmet had the timo of his life, also the feed of his life, for all sorts of dainties were pressed npon him. His company, being in reserve, did not take part in the ensuing fight and the men expressed their disapproval of thtf faet in a manner that taught Ahmet a variety of words, which he added with great gusto to his already large vocabulary. The language was particularly lurid when broken and defeated the Turkich Army had reth-ed, and they were or- j dered to form the burial parties. Ahmet accompanied them on this duty, and wan- j dering over the scene of the fight, h0 : found a wounded man whose face seemed oddly familiar to him. He, of eourse, knew nothing of ^ I other's treachery and was surprised, I and not a little puzxled as to how Abu I came to be there. He ran to the cap- I tain of his company and told him that 1 Abu Sulieman the Haj and interprek' J was lying greatly hurt. The 6flPta^ | who had by no means the same re-P6 1 for Abu at once ordered that he sho | be placed under a guard and his cap ^ ture reported to Headquarters. I Abu was removed in an ambuh»Jt0 drawn by two mules and driven ty. 1 native driver, whose face was mu, I Ahmet, who was there to see the old j off peered into the face of the I wondering who it could be and v 3 I man had his face muffled. Imagmc I astonishment when as the car ^ I off the driver let fall his mu ^ I disclosed the features of - [the moghassil, his own father.