150 GORDON AND THE MAHDI.

LOOKING UP THE NILE FROM KHARTOUM.

homes of comfort. These were widows, wives, and daughters of Egyptian officers, some of whom had been killedwithHicks Pasha; wives and childrenof Egyptian merchants formerlyrich,owningships andmills,gardens and shops. They wereafterwards sold; some for 340 thalaries or more, some for 250, according to age and goodlooks. And the poor black womenalready slaves, and their children, were takenoff too. These weresold, too, for a hundred, eighty, or seventy thalaries. Their husbands and masters wereslainbefore their eyes. " This fightingand spillingofbloodcontinuedtillnoon, tillthe sun rode highin the sky— red, yet darkened by smoke and dust. Then there was riot and clamour,hubbub and wrangling overspoil; cursing washeard tillthe hourof eveningprayer. But theMuezzin wasnot called; neither wereany prayers offered up at the mosqueon that dark day in the annals of Khartoum. But the history of these scenes willnot be writtenonits records; for allscrolls and papersand booksinthe archives were destroyed and scatteredabroad. Yetthe howling herd, possessedbyevil spirits,the screechingdevils,bespattered with gore, swarming about in droves and bands, found not the plunderthat they had been promisedor had expected. Then they wereexasperated. Theirfury knew no bounds, and theysought out Faragh Pasha;but he waswiththedervishes. Hehadpresentedhimself tothem as one deserving well of honour and rewards. 'Where' he was asked, 'is the hidden treasure of the Greek merchants and Bachalees ;of Leontides and Georgio Themetrio1 Yes, and of the Frenchman Marquet;of the Italian Michaclo? We know thatyou are acquainted with the secrethiding places. Where are allthethalaries ofMarco Polo, and of the German tailor, Klein1 We know that those wholeftKhartoum wereunable tocarry away their silver,andyou know where it is hid.' "The dervishes,seeingthe tumult,questionedFaragh sharply and addressedhimthus:'The long-expectedOne, our lord,desires to know where the English pasha hidhis wealth. We know he was very rich and everyday paid large sums of money ;this has not beenconcealed from ourlord. Now thereforelet us know,that wemaybear him word where all the felluce (pay) he gave the troops is hidden, so that we mayput it into the treasury. Let him be bound and examinedin the inner chamber.' "Then werethe doors of thehouse where the dervishes were, andthe gatesof the gardens outside— they werein the Jeneseh— closed against the Arab soldiery, and they were driven out, though angry words and threats were loudlyheard. Faragh wasnow questioned,but he swore by Allah and by the souls of his fathers back to three generationsthat Gordon had nomoney,andthat he knew ofnohidden money or treasure.' '"You lie,' cried the dervishes. 'You wish after a while to come here, dig, and getit all for yourself. If the Englishman had no money or silver, how did he make all those silver medals we have seen1' "'Most of themare lead,'Faraghreplied,'andhe paid every one with paper.' "'It is false,' rejoinedthe dervishes,'andnowhave a care, Faragh;listen to what we are going to say to you. We arc sure youknow- where the money lies concealed. We are not careful of your life, for you have betrayed the man whose salt you have eaten;you have been the servant of the infidel,and you have betrayed evenhim. Unless you unfold this secret of the buried treasure, you shallsurelydie.' "But Faragh,it issaid— for we werenot there— seeing that his end was approaching, that his words were not believed,assumedaproud and haughty bearing, and an attitudeof defiance. "'Icare not,'hesaid, 'for your threats. Ihave told the truth,Allahknows. There is no money,neither is there treasure. You are magnoons (fools)" to suppose there is money;but if there were you would notdivide