58 GORDON AND THE MAHDI.

betweenKorosko and Berberby the last European who had left Khartoum, in the person of Mr.Bohndorff, a Germannaturalist, whohad been engaged for some time previous inmaking a valuablescientific collection in the Niam-Niam country, and on reaching Khartoum in January, had, onthe advice of Mr. Power the British consul,* hastened towards Cairo before all communication wascut off. According to Mr.Bohndorff the only Europeans theninKhartoum were Colonel de Coetlogon, Mr.Power, and Hen* Hansal,the Austrian consul. All told, there were 60,000 souls in the city. Colonel de Coetlogon had fortified it as strongly as he could, There was anaspect of sadness and dejection overKhartoum, but the people wereperfectly tranquil.

Singularly enough the two men who met thus unexpectedly in the solitary desert, were well known to each other. Bohndorff had been employed some years before under General Gordon on the White Nile, and entertained a lively feeling of gratitude towards his former chief, for many acts of material kindness. He thus described what proved to be their last meeting:— ■ LeavingBerber at the end of January with my guide andmyservant, we struck into the desert. On the after-THE FORT, KHARTOUM. but his cannon were not much to boast of, the best having~beentakenby Hicks Pasha onhisill-fatedexpedition. Colonel de Coetlogon spoke sadly to Mr. Bohndorff as to the prospects ofresisting theMahdi, whom he already regarded as master of the Soudan. Nothing, in the commandant's opinion,but a strong English expedition would avail for its reconquest,andhe wasinhopes that a force would be speedily sent under Baker Pasha. Everything seemed to confirm the gloomy forecast of Colonel de Coetlogon,whose view was that Khartoum might be starved aftera long siege,but thatit was too strong to be taken by force. There were provisions— maiidydhurra— to last for six months. Mr.Bohndorff thought the Egyptian soldierswouldsurely bekilled by the Arabs if they got themin their power,and that in his opinion was the only reason why they did not desert. The populace wasopenly in favourof theMahdi, and the Arab traders'sympathieswere strongly withhim. * Mr. Frank Power accompanied Mr. O'Donovan to the Soudan,in the capacity of special artist to The Pictorial World, with theview of followingHicks Pasha's campaign inKordofan. Beingtaken seriously ill. onthe arrival of the army at Duem he was sent back down the Nile to Khartoum,and on his recoverycontinued to remain in that city,acting as correspondent to T/S Times, and subsequently asBritish consul on the invitation of Sir EvelynBariag.

noon of my fourth day's march Isaw a great cloud of dust far away on the horizon, and soonacavalcade came riding towards me at anextraordinary pace in contrast to my own wearied march. The leader was in advance, andInoticed his eager manner, and his compact figure clad in a blue military frock coat, red trousers, and afez. " Bohndorff," said General Gordon— for it was he— " we all at Cairo thought you were dead. Ihave often prayedto Godto protect you andDr.Junker and preserve youalive." Idismounted and wentto the side ofhis camel,andhe shook hands warmly. Iwasoverwhelmed withastonishment, for theyknew nothing at Khartoum or Berber of Gordon's coming,but immediatelyIsaw himIdivined his mission. Ionly needed to see him to know why he was there. " Why have you left Khartoum 1" said Gordon hurriedly. "Iam very glad to be going there. Why is everybody leaving] Are you afraid 1" "Notexactly afraid, but Ihave finished my collection, andIamreturning.'" "Well, how goesit there." "Everything inaterrible muddle,no oneknowino* who is faithful to the Government and whois not."