AHMET.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 7, 30 April 1920, Page 6

AHMET.

* ♦ * A True Story of Life with the N.Z. Divisioa *f§ J in Egypt. J 3 * ' * (By 11/1275.) }a * — 1 j tile courtmartial. ********************

-Y- T * * ' CHAPTER 7. THE COURTMARTIAL. As soon as Ahrnet was safely stowed away in the clink, there was a meeting of the boys of his company, and the whole of the matter of his desertion was discussed and thrashed out. The next day being Saturday, when the men would have a . half-holidav, there being no parades after noon, it was decided to hold a courtmartial in the big recreation hut. Saturday morning saw a woebegone little Gippie boy being "dished out" with new clothes by the Company Q.M.S. The new clothes did not fit with the same neatness of outline, as the smart uniform that had originally been his, when he had first joined the Umpteenths. There was regimental tailor to make tunics of superfine khaki, no smart little slouch hats with jaunty plumes, instead, a sold;er's cardigan that reached to his knees, a pair of shorts that upon Ahmet looked more like longs, and a balaclava cap completed his outfit. The Sergt. of the Guard gave him some breakfast, but he had little appetite, so he was sent for a walk in charge of one of the men with whom he showed no desire to enter into conversation. It geemed that the discipline of the soldier, as well as the reserve of the Arab, had combined to make up what might be well termed the essence of taciturnity. At last the a-ftemoon came and Abmet was marched into the recreation hut, where were assembled nearly all the Umpteenths, even the R.S.M. was being in the corner. The charge was read over to the accused, and one of the men was told off as prisoner's friend, evidence of arrest was given, followed by evidence as to wben the accused had been last seen with his unit, and the circumstances under which he came to be missed. Witness after witness appeared, and the case looked black against our liero, who preserved a silence which astonished all the Aussies. The prisoner's friend pleaded on his behalf, that he had been a good soldier, and that he had held a good character, that he was an Arab, to whom there could be no greater crime than filial disobedience, thus, when ordered to follow his father he could have no chance but to obey. Ahmet was then marched out, whilst the court considered their verdict; after about five minutes he was marched in, and the President put the following questions to him. "Prisoner, do you know what is the punishment for desertion " "Aiwa Effenai; It is death." "And are you not afraid to die ?" "No. I am a soldier, an Arab, and thc. son of a moghassil. Wby should I fear death ?" At this there were loud cheers from the crowd of Aussies, who rushed to the centre of the room, and earried the astonished Ahmet shoulder high out into the square. "The gamest little bantam in the whole outfit," was the verdict of the delighted Umptheenths, as they took their mascot to the town, where with many threats, they persuaded a native tailor to start on a brand new outfit for Sergeant-Major McKenzie. "For," said they, "he has earned his promotion." Mahmoud, passing the camp that night saw Ahmc-t, still in the nondescript garb in which he had stood his so-called trial, yit supremely happy amongst his A ussie friends, and he thought it better to leave him there whilst he returned to laelmeih and to Zeinab. It was towards sunset when Mahmoud arrived near Ilelmeih, riding on the guands-van ef a goods train, for though he had enough money to have paid his fare, he, like many a European could not see the necessity of so doing if he could avoid it. As he drew near to the end of his journey, he felt at ease with all the woild, the Omdar, who had done him a vrong was dead, Said the thatcher, who had put on him a deadly insult was also g°ne to his account, whilst Abu Sulieman, v.ho had done him so much harm, he had personally attended to. Such little mat-

ters as the death of Abu's kinsmen anj'B the theft of the latter's camel, tronti^M him not a scrap. He was going ^|| to Zeinab, and though he had doubts a f| to her conduct, he considered that sh 1| had been merely indiscreet-, and that k/Jl had effectuaJly silenced all scanikjj^ tongues. At last his train arrived at Marg, SEj he got off, desiring to do the last lt, ' j miles on foot, and also because hehadlgjH reasons for wishing to arrive at his houil under the cover of darkness. Arrived then at Marg, he went to ttiBI houseof a brother moghassil, and askedthj^^ news. He was told that Hassan the gWffl fi had been diligent in his enquiries as ti^ the slayer of the late Omdar, and thomtBi there had been detectives on the sceuB from Cairo, yet they had found no clua B "Fools. Do they not know that tki|pf Omdar died by his own hand ?" sai/'L Mahmoud. "See, my brother, didnotftiH angel of death leave him a knife on kiP| doorstep, and then what choice had ligr but to obey the summons ?" Nevertheless, he felt ill at ease, ajiiF after sundown he set ofi along the Mahfgi rich road. "This Hassan," thought "knows too much; he is laxing hhrite. with matters far more weighty h B should be dealt with by a mere ghifc, R and it seems to me that Helmeih vi© soon need a new ghafflr. Arrived at Helmeih, he made his waj || straight to his house, and on enteiin^ he §j called to Zeinab, but instead of an answer I be was dazzled by the glare of an electra I torch, whilst a voice which he recogniseiH as that of Hassan, called on him to yki j in the name of the Sultan. Drawing his long knife, MahmoJ sprang in the direction of the voice. il the same time a shot rang out, and gave a little choking sigh and dropped iiH a heap. Lights were procured and the poihH officer with his two shawishes removeiB the body. Then Hassan the ghaffir m'tl out his report, to the effect that Mahmo il K the moghassil, murderer of the Owk ; R had been shot whilst resisting arrest. He then went to his home mJtdJ Zeinab, who was sheltering tk», M p after the prescribed days of niouraiijla f'j would take her for his wife. (Next Chapter "Lone Pine.")