THE HORRORS OP THE DESERT. 103 CHAPTER XXVI.

THE HORRORS OF THE DESERT.

At last Korti is reached. (December 16th, 1884.) For ninety-seven days the toilers of the Nile have literally dragged themselves along this almost unnavigable stream. But now they are within reasonable distance of their goal. From Khartoum to Korti a messenger can travel within a week. Surely Gordon is now to be saved. Only a month ago his letters told that he could hold out till the expedite n arrived. Still, between him and Wolseley lay unknown and untold dangers. Within the walls of Khartoum itself every body knew that treachery was lurking. Hardly one could be depended on, and “ the one supremely capable Englishman” must be reached at once—at once.

From Korti to Khartoum there are two routes. The Nile here takes a long bend to the left and contains many rapids. Directly south stretches the desert. What shall be done 1 Once more General Wolseley’s thorough¬ ness comes to the front. Both routes shall be used. Orde.rs are issued (Dec. 29th) that General Stewart shall make a desperate dash across the terrible Bahiuda desert. There are only 180 miles of it, and there are reported to be wells here and there. The next day the march begins, and the resolute band set their faces for Metemneh.

This little force, composed only of some fifteen hundred men, was des¬ tined to witness the hardest fighting that was experienced throughout the campaign. It fought on the open field in the desert wastes, against reckless hordes that outnumbered it by twelve to one. It lost its leader, and it lost many of its highest officers. It was more than once totally surrounded by the enemy ; and was not seldom on the brink of complete annihilation.

Let us regard closely this brave band. The object was to establish at Gakdul a depot of stores and ammunition, and so to fortify these wells as that they might serve as an auxiliary base between Korti and Metemneh. Accordingly, the following force was despatched:— 1,000 baggage camels, each three led by camel-men ; 1,000 troops mounted on camels ; a detachment of heavy and light cavalry ; a rocket battery ; commis¬ sariat camels ; m mnted infa itry, and hussars. They were led by Major Kitchener and half-a-dozen Bedouin gu'des, and flanked and headed by scouts. The formation was in column of companies, so formed that in two minutes three squares could be formed in e'chelon to resist any attack. The