126 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

Be sure of one thing. If her majesty's government do not act promptly General Graham's victory will go for naught, and with the useless expenditure of blood the effect of it will evaporate.

I do not believe we shall send any more telegraphs, for it is no longer a question of days, but of hours.

I am dead against the sending of any British expedition to reconquer the Soudan. It is unnecessary. I would not have a single life lost. It is my firm conviction that none would be lost by the plan I propose, and our honour would be saved. I like the people in rebellion as much as those who are not, and I thank God that, so far as I am concerned, no man has gone before his Maker prematurely through me."

He could not abandon the opinion that the only, or, at all events, the best thing that could be done was to send Zebehr in accordance with his previous plan; but on the 6th of March, when the government were still considering the possibility of consenting to this proposal, he telegraphed to Sir E. Baring: " Be assured that whatever is decided by her majesty's government in re Zebehr, I honestly accept it as I should look on it as ruled by a higher power, and it will be sure to come right. As I have been inconsistent about Zebehr it is my fault, and I should bear the blame if Zebehr is sent, and should put up with inconvenience if he is not."

It need scarcely be said, that while the question of Zebehr was supposed not to be absolutely settled, and Lord Granville was asking questions of Sir E. Baring by telegram respecting what were the precise powers which Gordon would recommend to be given to his successor, the position of Gordon himself was one of increasing uncertainty and anxiety. The road to Berber was threatened to be cut, and it would be necessary, if Stewart had to retreat to Egypt conveying the Cairo employes and white troops, he would have to go from Berber across to Merawi, where the river was navigable to Hannek, north of Dongola, where there was a steamer on the strip of water, and thence there would be no danger for the travellers to Egypt, if Sir E. Wood sent 2000 troops to Dongola to convey them. This was one of the frustrated