2l6 LGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

half-past five on the morning of the 24th of January; at seven o'clock the leading boats of the Gordons had started. Cavalry scouts and patrols were out on duty, and the main body of cavalry had moved out of camp when a messenger arrived with a despatch from Korti, dated 20th February. " I opened it," writes General Brackenbury, "it was mostly in cipher; but some words in clear caught my eye, sent a cold shiver through me, and caused me at once to sound the halt." This was the message:—" Duller evacuated Gubat. His main body went to Gakdul with all sick and wounded. He remains with about 1500 men at Abu-Klea. The enemy have now begun to fire into his camp there, and have killed and wounded some of his men. He awaits camels to fall back on Gakdul, which I hope he will begin to do to-morrow, the 2 1 St instant; but owing to the weak state of his camels all his men must go on foot. I have abandoned all hope of going to Berber before the autumn campaign begins. You will therefore not go to Abu-Hamed, but having burned and destroyed everything in the neighbourhood where Stewart was murdered, you will withdraw all your force to Abu-Dom, near Merawi, bringing all the mudir's troops with you.

" Please express to the troops Lord Wolseley's high appreciation of their gallant conduct in action, and of the military spirit they have displayed in overcoming the great difficulties presented by the river. Having punished the Monassir people for Stewart's murder, it is not intended to undertake any further military operations until after the approaching hot season.

" Further orders will be sent to you upon your reaching Abu-Dom. Until you have occupied the Shukook Pass, and made sure of every one through it, you had better keep this telegram entirely to yourself and Butler. Of course, if you are in the presence of the enemy when you receive this, you must defeat him before turning back. If you do not receive this before you liave reached Abu-Hamed, or are so near to it that it is merely a question of occupying it without opposition, you must halt there, and send back information at once to me, when I will start the convoy from Korosko, which I do not otherwise mean to despatch.