RESCUE IN SIGHT. 1 23 in the afternoon, when, to their surprise, they saw on the bank Feki Mustapha, who was in command of the Mahdi's force at Wad Habashi. He had married a first cousin of Khashm, and used all his persuasions to induce him to surrender; but Ibrahim, sharp of eye and ear, heard the sister whisper to Khashm on no account to consent, as the Mahdi had determined to kill him. It was during this interview that Abd-ul-Hamid with t)ne of the reis and the Shagiyeh picket contrived to get away. Affairs were very critical, and it was thought probable that an attack would be made on the island that night before the moon rose. Sir Charles Wilson determined that if Feki Mustapha made his appearance again he should be seized and held as a hostage during the march down the right bank, which was to be attempted at noon of the day following, if the steamers did not appear by that time. In the morning the troops were all ordered to keep within the seriba, and a plan was formed for the seizure of Feki Mustapha by Ibrahim Bakhit Agha with some of his men.

All the natives were in a state of excitement. Khashm-el-Mus was seen to sfo out of the seriba with two or three of his men; and Sir Charles Wilson had to remonstrate with him and endeavour to control his evident perturbation. The reises were all watched carefully, and the Sussex men who were on guard had been ordered to shoot either of them who attempted to desert.

Trafiford and Gascoigne were at the end of the island on the look-out for the expected steamers. All was in a state of tension.

If the steamer did not come by noon, the march must be made soon, for something would have to be done to prevent any outburst of excitement which would destroy all discipline, and would perhaps signify revolt. At that moment the boom of a gun sounded from the river below them. The change was instantaneous. With shouts of "Ingliz! Ingliz!" the natives waited almost impatiently for orders. From a tall tree a man could see the steamer firing on the battery at the fort, and that firing continued for a longer time than seemed necessary for the boat to pass the place and come up towards the island. Flags were hoisted on the stranded and half-sunk Bordein, to show the