J 6 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

soldiers landed with their guns. The Egyptian commanders Khashm-el-Mus and Abd-ul-Hamid remained on board with their fellaheen, and perhaps so much the better, as Gordon had always declared that those " hens " the Egyptians were useless; but the blacks were as brisk and lively as great boys, and were received with welcome shouts by our fellows. They were sent to the front with their four guns, which they ran into action at once, making some first-rate practice on the town or the village at the end of it, and standing to it though their fire brought a hail of rifle bullets their way. " It seemed extraordinary," says Lieutenant Dawson, " what good troops the master mind of Gordon had made out of such rough material. Never have I seen men so pleased as they Avere at meetinsf us. Gordon's name mentioned was like that of a god whom they worshipped. It was even difficult to persuade these enthusiastic allies to retire, as we explained to them that we did not intend for the present to attack the town."

While these new allies were firing from behind the houses and some risinsf crround. Sir Charles Wilson was conferrinsf with Khashm-el-Mus and Abd-ul-Hamid, and it was then that he saw Gordon's note—" Khartum all right— can hold out for years " a note Avhich most people now agree was intended to be regarded only as a feint and designed for the enemy, while the previous messages had said that he had only enough provisions for forty days,—a period already several days past. The message " can hold out for years " was written on the 29th of December, and the previous message that provisions would last but for forty days had been written on the 4th of November: " we can hold out forty days with ease; after that it will be difficult." It was not precisely what may be called a life-or-death message so far as a few days, say a week, over the forty days might be concerned; but here was now the 22nd of January, and it would be perhaps another week before Sir Charles Wilson would be able to get to Khartum, if even, under the adverse circumstances of the situation, he ever got into the city at all. The letter was for tUe enemy; but the enemy was now holdincf the inhabitants of Khartum as men surround rame in a pit, apparently waiting only for some inciting cause or.