Page 32 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

THE DEATH OF COLONEL FRED BURNABY

as well as his own. As the dauntless colonel rode forward on a
borrowed nag – for his own had been shot that morning – he put
himself in the way of a sheikh charging down on horseback. Ere
the Arab closed with him, a bullet from someone in our ranks,
and not Burnaby’s sword-thrust, brought the sheikh headlong to
the ground. The enemy’s spear-men were close behind, and one
of them suddenly dashed at Colonel Burnaby, pointing the long
blade of his spear at his throat. Checking his horse and slowly
pulling it backward, Burnaby leant forward in his saddle and
parried the rapid and ferocious thrusts; but the length of the
man’s weapon, eight feet, put it out of his power to return with
interest the Arab’s murderous intent. The affray was the work of
three or four seconds only, for the savage horde were fast
closing in upon our square. Burnaby fenced smartly, just as if he
were playing an assault at arms, and there was a smile on his
features as he drove off the man’s awkward points. The scene
was taken in at a glance – with that lightning instinct which I have
seen the desert warriors before now display in battle whilst
coming to one another’s aid – by an Arab who, pursuing a
soldier, had passed five paces to Burnaby’s right and rear.
Turning with a sudden spring, this second Arab ran his spear-
point into the colonel’s right shoulder. It was but a slight wound
– enough, though, to cause Burnaby to twist around in his saddle
to defend himself from this unexpected attack. Before the savage
could repeat his unlooked-for blow, a soldier ran out and drove
his sword-bayonet through the second assailant, and the rebel
reeled and fell. Brief as was Burnaby’s glance backward at this
fatal episode, it was long enough to enable the first Arab to
deliver his spear-point full in the brave officer’s throat. The blow
drove Burnaby out of the saddle, but it required a second one
before he let go his grip of the reins and tumbled upon the
ground. Half a dozen Arabs were now about him. With the blood
gushing in streams from his gashed throat, the dauntless
Guardsman leapt to his feet, sword in hand, and slashed at the

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