and the town of Sardi provided once again that the Ras could be
restrained in the role of defender.
Once the Italians broke out of the head of the gorge, the armoured cars
could be flung in to hold them for a day or two more, but when they
were expended, it was all over. It was an easy drive for the
Italians through the rolling highlands on to the Dessie road, to close
the jaws of the trap hopefully after the prey had fled.
Gareth had reported all this to Lij Mikhael, contacting him by
telegraph at the Emperor's headquarters on the shores of Lake Tona.
The Prince had telegraphed back the Emperor's gratitude and assurances
that within two weeks the destiny of Ethiopia would be decided.
'HOLD THE GORGE FOR TWO WEEKS AND YOUR DUTY WILL BE FULLY
DISCHARGED STOP YOU WILL HAVE EARNED THE GRATITUDE OF THE EMPEROR AND
ALL THE PEOPLES OF ETHIOPIA.' A week here on the plains, but it all
depended on this first encounter with the Italian armour. Gareth's
and
Jake's observations, backed up by those of the scouts, placed the total
number of surviving Italian tanks at four. They must take them out at
a single stroke, the whole defence of the gorge pivoted on this.
Jake found that he had been day-dreaming, his mind wandering over the
problems they faced and the chances they must take. It took
Gregorius's hand on his shoulder to rouse him.
'Jake! The signal.' Quickly he looked back at the slope of the
mountains, and he did not need the binoculars. Gareth was signalling
with a primitive heliograph he had contrived with the shaving-mirror
from his toilet bag. The bright flashes of light pricked Jake's
eyeballs even at that range.
'They are coming in across the valley, line abreast. All four tanks,
supported by motorized infantry.' Jake read the signal, and jumped
into the driver's hatch while Gregorius slid down the side of the hull
and ran to the crank handle.
'That's my darling.' Jake thanked Priscilla, as the engine spluttered
busily into life, and then he called up to Gregorius as he climbed into
the turret above him. 'I'll warn you every time I tUrn to engage.'
'Yes, Jake.' The boy's eyes burned with the fire of his anger,
and Jake grinned.
'As bad as his grand pappy He let in the clutch. They gathered speed
swiftly and flew over the crest of the rise, and behind them rolled a
long billow of dust, proclaiming their whereabouts to all the world.
The line of Italian tanks was coming straight in, a mile and a half out
on their flank.
'Engaging now, 'shouted Jake.
'Ready.' Gregorius was crouched over the Vickers in the turret,
straining it to the limit of its traverse, ready to fire at the very
instant the gun could bear.
Jake put the wheel over hard, and Priscilla swung towards the distant
dark beetle shapes of the Italian armour, sailing jauntily right into
their teeth.
Above Jake the Vickers roared, and the spent cartridges spewed down
