the rear of the fortification, from
which we could have outflanked the defence.

`Old Hankey Pankey,' who led our fighting force of bluejackets and
marines, which mustered in officers and men altogether some two hundred
strong, was flabbergasted as he gaily marched in front of the column on
our being received by a hail of bullets and buckshot, which decimated
our ranks as we suddenly debouched from a rough, tangled undergrowth of
scrub and dwarf plantain trees.

Amidst these we could hardly see an inch before us; and then, we found
ourselves in front of a high palisade, made of the trunks of heavy trees
lashed together with lianas and rattan creepers that were as strong as
wire rope. This was loopholed for musketry, and from thence a murderous
fire of innumerable weapons was directed at our devoted heads.

Plucky as a lion, however, the captain rallied us; and, dividing the
column into three portions, taking command of the middle division
himself, while Captain Oliver of the _Merlin_, and Lieutenant Dabchick
of our ship, headed the two others, we advanced with a cheer to storm
the stockade, `old Hankey Pankey' aiming for its front face, and the
other sections of our force for the flanks of the fortification.

Talk of fighting, it was a case of `pull baker, pull devil!' then!

We numbered two hundred, as I have said, but the Somalis must have
mustered two thousand at least, if they had a man there.

Twice we advanced to the attack, twice we were forced to fall back
before the withering flight of bullets that met us face to face from
every hole and corner of that infernal stockade; though Captain Hankey
bravely walked right up to the timber work till he almost touched it, a
revolver in either hand, which he fired alternately at the beggars!

But, the captain got a big matchlock ball through both his legs, the
missile having been discharged at him as he turned sideways, with a
"Follow me, lads!" to cheer us on.

He was not licked yet, though; for, as Larrikins stooped over him to
lift him up, `old Hankey Pankey' got his arm round his neck and climbed
up on to him pick-a-back, Larry highly delighted at the job, he and the
captain then advancing again to the assault.

In the meantime, Mr Dabchick had brought up one of our little nine-
pounder boat-guns which had stuck in the rear and blew in part of the
palisading on the left of the stockade, when he and a lot of us made a
desperate charge to storm the entrenchmen