Chapter 2: The Watch Tower, Part One, The New Boat.

Gertrude, C.O. of the Jaegers, speaks with Fedora, logistics at the watch tower: "Fee I am certainly glad Herr Abdhul finished the watch tower, at least we have some protection and can see over the dunes about a mile out.  Once we have the fort started I will really be happy."
"Gert I will be happy right now to have some canvas up so we do not bake in this heat."

Another  felucca has come across from Dakla to the new jetty and unloaded food stuffs and canvas.  However, aboard the felucca a discussion takes place.

Princess Louise Marie and Miriam, the spy master/mistress?, discuss the felucca with its' owner Ibrahim: "We would like to buy this felucca from you Herr Ibrahim."
"She is a new boat and I would need 1,000 ducats"
"500"
"900. What about my business?"
"600. You have other feluccas and boats."
"The boat cost me bags of ducats, 800."
"700"
"800"
"750"
"You have bought yourself a boat, effendi."
"Thank you, Herr Ibrahim."
"You need crew to sail the boat."
"No, Herr Ibrahim, we have our own sailors."

"We will take you back to Dakla as soon as they are done moving the boxes to the tower."
Moving off away from Ibrahim, Miriam speaks:
"Well princess this will give us a bit more freedom."
"Yes, and you can now check with our girls in the Hareem without involving anyone else knowing our secret."
"As soon as we can get the extra sail dyed black so we will not be so visible at night I'll go see them."

Chapter 1, Part Two: First Arrivals

April 1st 1874:
The first Prussian steamship containing the most of the command group, a platoon of Jaegers, and the first load of supplies arrives at Dakla Bay and begins to unload their cargo after establishing watch posts for the Jaegers to ensure the safety of the unit and supplies.

The Command group assembles to watch the unloading of the first felucca, Princess Louise Marie (in green) giving orders and determining the location of the supplies as they are brought up on the beach. 
"Well, Ladies this should ruffle the feathers of the Chancellor and Military High Command when they finally learn we have beat their schedule by a year."
"It was fortuitous to learn their schedule, Princess, from the Chancellor's own secretary."
"Once these men leave us and return to Dakla tomorrow we will then appear in our safari gear until Viktoria and Cecilia steam into port in three months' time.  Hopefully we will be able to have the watch tower finished in thenext week, which will become our headquarters and barracks. At least until the fort is constructed.  I have confirmed with our architect Herr Abdul using our engineers drawings that he will begin construction of the fort as soon as the engineers finish staking out the dimensions which will begin as soon as finish obtaining supplies from Dakla."

"It looks as though the felucca in unloaded and we should be about our tasks here, you are all armed with pistols as instructed?  Good, then let us be about it."



On a nearby sandstone mount Herr Abdul is directing the excavation of the watch tower base.  While in the background several cattle boys drive the beginnings of the herd to pasture.

Next up will see the completion of the watch tower, kraal for the cattle, the beginnings of a native settlement to tend the cattle, surveying for the fort and more.  Scouting the area for possible dangers and hunting for the dinner pot will soon be undertaken by the Jaegers.

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Remarks: A map of the area mentioned here, Dakla, can be found here:  http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2011/07/chapter-vi-spy.html
Soon I will be filling in a map with more details and will publish it here.
Louise Marie is the youngest of three sisters with Viktoria being the eldest by four years, but they refuse to tell me how old they actually are.