AN ATTACK DETERMINED ON. 1 33 an unlucky day. The attack was to be made from three sides, one from that of Khartum, one from that of the beleaguered garrison, and one from armed steamers. The rebels had intrenched themselves along the river bank, being thus enabled to fire with impunity on passing steamers, and it was necessary to dislodge them. This assemblage of rebels had not apparently interfered with the forwarding of supplies to the town market. One hundred camels, carrying food, arrived at Khartum. This was above the usual daily number, and Mr. Power said in his telegram, that Gordon had told him the fact showed that the people would not rise unless they were egged on by some malcontents. They would be quiet if they believed the government had any backbone.

" Provided that no influence be brought to bear from without," said Gordon, " the loss of an action will not involve immediate danger to Khartum. The only justification for assuming the offensive against these poor unfortunate peasants is derived from the law of self-defence, and the duty of the extrication of the men beleaguered in Halfiyeh. But for this, it is questionable whether we ought to shoot clown those whose reason for rebellion is fidelity to the only person whom they can see as their coming governor in the immediate future, with the wish to preserve their possessions, the security of which cannot be guaranteed by the present provisional government." On the evening of the 13th about 3000 rebels, horse and foot, remained drawn up under arms, with banners waving, on the right bank of the Nile opposite the palace at Khartum, on the roof of which Gordon used frequently to keep watch hour after hour, whence he and his companions, Power, Stewart, and Herbin, could see this force, and when night fell could trace their position by their watch-fires. At three o'clock next morning there was a heavy sound of rifle-firing, and the flashes of the guns of the insurgents could be seen from the palace roof, The firing continued till daybreak, when about 6000 rebels returned from tindirection of the river, and drew up in four ranks, each nearly two miles long. Later in the day they commenced making huts and putting up tents amidst a great beating of drums.