114 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

Curiously enough, the messenger, who perhaps was desirous of distinguishing himself by inducing the officers to submit, by means of a lie or two and an artful touch of treachery on his own account, declared that Gordon was alive at Omdurman and wearinsf the Mahdi's uniform, that Khartum had been surrendered without fighting, and that the garrison at Tuti had been killed for refusing to submit. Except the last these were falsehoods, too gross to gain an instant's belief on the part of the British, and he would probably have been turned off the vessel and sent about his business with a sharp message in retort to the Mahdi, but Khashm-el-Mus strongly represented that it would be desirable to meet cunning with cunning, until the steamer had passed the gorge and the cataract, where, as fresh guns had been mounted, there would be sure to be a serious attack. Khashm then, on his own responsibility, sent word to the Mahdi that he refused to give himself up unless the Mahdi sent him a special safe-conduct and promises of safety, but that on the arrival of these he w-ould surrender the steamer and all on board to Feki Mustafa at Wad Habashi. Khashm was staunch. He had no belief in the word or the promises of the Mahdi—he had lost almost everything but his life, and was dependent on the English, with whom he had frankly determined to throw in his lot; but men who went on board the steamers endeavoured to persuade him to yield. Their arguments appeared to have some effect on Abd-ul-Hamid, but none on Khashm. It seemed so uncertain whether the captains and reiscs would not take an opportunity of deserting, that the sentries had orders to shoot them if they were seen to make the attempt though, as Sir Charles Wilson remarks, as they were all of them as much at home in the water as fish, it would not have been very easy to prevent their desertion. The temper and intention of these blacks and their crews was very uncertain, but they all worked heartily enough in getting the remaining steamer and the nuggar safely through the narrow cataract, the steamer going first, stern foremost, and guided by means of hawsers. The captains and reises were praised and were promised handsome rewards on their arrival at Gubat. Gascoigne's servant told the British