THE LAST PAGE 307 from the Mahdi. For myself I am content. I have done my duty as far as lay in my power, but I had a right to rely upon receiving support from those who sent me. I am in the hands of God. But for the many thousands who trusted in me and remained here I feel very deeply. Now the first thing is to provide you with clothes. I am expecting Colonel Stewart here every minute, and he will see that you are made comfortable.’

‘ I shall be glad to place myself at your disposal, sir,’ I said. I speak Arabic fiuently, and shall be ready to perform any service of which I may be capable.’

“ ‘ I thank you,’ he said, and will avail myself of your offer if I see any occasion; but at present we have rather to suffer than to do. We have occasional fights, but of late the attacks have been feeble, and I think that the Mahdi depends upon hunger rather than force to obtain possession of this town. This evening I will ask you to tell me your story. Colonel Stewart will show you a room. There is only one other white man—Mr. Power—here. We live together as one family, of which you will now be a member.’

“ I felt strange when I came to put on my European clothes. Mr. Power, who tells me he has been here for some years as correspondent of the Times, has this afternoon taken me round the defences and into the workshops. I think the place can resist any attacks if the troops remain faithful, but of this there is a doubt. A good many of the Soudanese have already been sent away. As Gordon said at dinner this evening, if he had but a score of English officers he would be perfectly confident that he could resist any enemy save starvation.

September 12th .—It has been settled that Colonel Stewart and Mr. Power are to go down the river in the Abbas, and I am to go with them. The General proposed it to me.

I said that I could not think of leaving him here by himself, so he said kindly : I thank you, Mr.

do no good here, and would only iANLluc