GORDON AND THE MAHDI. 132 on the last day of the year, and four days previously-General Earlehad startedup the Nile with 2400 men to avenge the murderofColonel Stewart, and afterwards to advance upon Abu Hammed andBerber. The column was too far awayto berecalled (evenifsuch a coursehad been advisable) when Sir Herbert Stewartreturned to Korti fromGakdul on January 6, and reported that the wells had been seized without opposition. Thanks to this judiciousproceeding, whichplaced ample supplies of water at the disposal of the expedition, it seemed as though there would be no serious obstacle to a second and more extended march across the desert. Some fighting was to be expected at Matamahundoubtedly, but as the rebelforce entrenched there wasnotestimated cither by messengers or prisoners at more than three thousandmen, there was ever}'probability that a column of moderate strength would succeed in joining hands withGordonbymeans of the steamersreported tobelying off Shendy, in anticipation of the British advance. Besides, the effort had to be made at any cost, andLord Wolseley resolvedto confideits executionto Sir Herbert Stewart withas strong a force as could befurnished.

repel attacks. Gordonlooked well,the messenger added, and his men were in good spirits, now that they knew of Lord Wolseley's advance with the English troops.

The curt despatch," Khartoum all right," was duly telegraphed to Londonby the newspapercorrespondents, together with such supplementary information as they were able to obtainfrom the messenger. The latter, in accordance with his instructions,had reserved secretintelligence of far greaterimport for Lord Wolseleypersonally. General Gordon had instructed him to tell the commander-in-chief that he was besieged on all sides, that hestill held Omdurman and the fort on theright bank;but that the Mahdi's troopshad thrownup earthworks within rifle-shot of the first-named place. " The enemy," continued the messenger, repeating word for word whatGeneralGordonhad dictatedto him," cannot takeus except by starving us out. Do not scatter your troops. The enemy are numerous. Bring plenty of troops ifyou can. Our soldiersin Khartoum are suffering from lack of provisions. The food we still have is little— some grain and some biscuit. We want you to comequickly. You should comeby Matamah or Berber. Make by these tworoads. Do not leave Berberinyour rear. Keep enemyin your front, andwhen you have takenBerber sendme word from there. Do this without letting rumours of your approach spread abroad. In Khartoum there are no butter, nor dates, and little meat. All foodis very dear."

Sir Herbert's return to Korti on January 6, was accordingly followed, the nextday, by the departure of ColonelClarke for Gakdul with the Light Camel regiment and a large convoy of stores, and in the evening-LordCharles Beresford's NavalBrigade, selectedfor service with the flying column,paraded oncamels before the Commander-in-Chief. The sailors weregreatly delighted at finding themselves mounted on the so-called ships of the desert, and their joviality caused universal amusement. Everything was conducted in nautical fashion, and the camels were steered to the wordof command "Port" or "Starboard." The animals themselves appearedpuzzled with their new riders, whose vivacity and energy contrasted strongly with the apathetic behaviour of the nativesaccustomedtopilot them. "Steer small, Bill,""Mind your helm, Jack, or you'll run me aboard," weresome of the phrases caught as the brigade prepared to march past the Commander-in-Chief, who, after commending the men for their smart appearance, informed them that theywould start across the desert withGeneralStewart onthe morrow.

That the situation was becoming desperate,is evident from a letter which Gordon wrote a friend in Cairo at the same date as he penned the words," Khartoum all right." "All is up," he said,"Iexpecta catastrophein ten days' time. It would not have been so if our people hadkept me betterinformedas to their intentions. My adieux to all,C. G. Gordon."

Thisnote didnot reach its destination untilFebruary, anditscontents were not known to LordWolseley at the time he received the secret message. It was evident enough to him, however, that the real language of Gordon was in the gloomy verbal account of the position,and not in the written despatch, "Khartoum all right." Prompt and vigorous action was therefore necessary,or thegallantdefendersoftheSoudanesecapital would fall into the hands of the Mahdi and be either butchered or enslaved. Under the circumstances but one course was possible,and that was to make an immediatedash across theBayudadesert.

The columnnow placed at Sir Herbert'sdisposal consistedof 1500 non-commissioned officers andmen, about 100 officers, 300 natives, and 2228 camels, together with three screw-guns and a Gardner. Amid a great deal of dust and commotion the column set out on its line of march at three o'clock in the afternoon of January8. Each soldier was supposed to carry food and water sufficient for three days, and forage for seven days onhis camel. The water— mainly storedin mussacks or goatskins— was oflimited quantity,but ample with discretion and economy, to have sufficed one man during four or five days for ordinarydrinking purposes as well as for making an occasional pint of tea. Unfortunately however themussacks provedutterlyworthless,for they were soongrizzled by the glare of the tropicalsun, and the water, sent thudding from endto end of the skinsby the swinginggait of the camels, stoodin thick beads outside andeventually trickled down the animals' flanks The result was that more thanhalf of the skins were emptv before the Hambok wells were reached. On the other hand, somemetallic and india-rubber water-tanks, taken with the force, didnotlet a drop escape,while the patent arrangementfor securing them,effectually prevented the native camel-drivers from stealing the contents. These fellowsprovedeven thirstier mortalsthan the soldiers of the column. They drank copiously and often, and after CHAPTER XYI.

A inarch of troops from Korti to theNile underGeneral Stewart determined on.— The Naval Brigade on the ships of the desert.— The flying column starts on its way.— Peculation of water hy thirsty camel-drivers.— Arrival at the wells of Abu Haifa.— The soil discovered to be full of hiddendrink.— The Gakdul reservoirs.— A two days' water feast.— Colonel FredBurnahy joins the column. — Arduous march on Abu Klea.— First view of the rebel forces.— The troops form a zereba.— The Arab advance.— Skirmishing around the camp.— General Stewart orders amove forward.— Hot fire openedby the enemy.— Sudden rush of Arabs.— The column closes square andmakes a stand.— British skirmishers in danger. — Colonel Burnaby's unfortunate order.— The Heavies leave their position and the Arabs break into the square.— Gallant fight of Colonel Burnaby witharebel Sheikh.— The Colonel is speared in the shoulder and throat.— Unavailing efforts made to save him. Desperate struggle within the square.— The Gardner gun gets jammed.— The Ameer of Matamahshot down.— GeneralStewart's horse shot under him.— The Guards drive the rebels from the square.— Final charge and complete rout of therebels. At this momentous juncture Lord Wolseley had but a portionof his force availableforimmediate actioninthe directionof Khartoum. Gordon's messagehadreachedhim