THE FALL OF KHARTOUM. 383 river surrounded on every side by a hostile population, and who incurred all these risks in the forlorn hope of rescuing Gordon, is not unworthy to be classed amidst the most gallant of the many displays of gallantry exhibited by British officers and their men during the Nile campaign.

On their way up the river, the expedition heard reports that Khartoum had fallen, and that Gordon was killed. They pushed onwards, notwithstanding; but on coming within sight of Khartoum they were fired upon from Tuli island, which, at the time the steamers had left, had been one of Gordon's strongholds, and they could not discover any Egyptian flag flying in or near Khartoum. They sent out native messengers to obtain information, who all returned with the intelligence that the Mahdi had entered Khartoum a day or two before their arrival, and that Gordon had been killed. All subsequent inquiries have confirmed the truth of these reports, and I fail to see what reasonable blame can attach to Sir Charles Wilson for having made up his mind to retire at once, and thereby, if possible, to save the lives of the men under his command. The termination of the ghastly tragedy of errors, which ended in Gordon being hacked to pieces only a few hours before the arrival of the relief expedition for which he had waited so wearily and so long, added greatly to the impression produced by the catastrophe on public opinion at home. I think, however, anybody, who reads through the conflicting evidence on the subject