But, on the other hand, its character was extremely awkward for us.

The Arabs made one rush at the beginning, shouting on Allah as they came.

But though they were plucky villains they did not repeat that experiment.

Either by good luck or good management Stephen knocked over two of them with his double-barrelled rifle, and I also emptied my large-bore breech-loader--the first I ever owned--among them, not without results, while the hunters made a hit or two.
After this the Arabs took cover, getting behind trees and, as I had feared, hiding in the reeds on the banks of the stream.

Thence they harassed us a great deal, for amongst them were some very decent shots.
Indeed, had we not taken the precaution of lining the thorn fence with a thick bank of earth and sods, we should have fared badly.