Eminent Victorians_第8章_无广告免费看-丁香书院

　　OneofthelasttelegramssentbyGordonbeforethewirewascutseemedtosupportexactlyMr。Gladstone’sdiagnosisofthecase。
　　HetoldSirEvelynBaringthat，sincetheGovernmentrefusedtosendeitheranexpeditionorZobeir，hewould’considerhimselffreetoactaccordingtocircumstances。’’Eventually，’hesaid，’youwillbeforcedtosmashuptheMahdi’，andhedeclaredthatiftheGovernmentpersistedinitspresentlineofconduct，itwouldbebrandedwithan’indelibledisgrace’。Themessagewasmadepublic，andithappenedthatMr。Gladstonesawitforthefirsttimeinanewspaper，duringacountryvisit。Anotheroftheguests，whowasintheroomatthemoment，thusdescribesthescene：’Hetookupthepaper，hiseyeinstantlyfellonthetelegram，andhereaditthrough。Asheread，hisfacehardenedandwhitened，theeyesburnedasIhaveseenthemonceortwiceintheHouseofCommonswhenhewasangered——burnedwithadeepfire，asiftheywouldhaveconsumedthesheetonwhichGordon’smessagewasprinted，orasifGordon’swordshadburnedintohissoul，whichwaslookingoutinwrathandflame。Hesaidnotaword。Forperhapstwoorthreeminuteshesatstill，hisfaceallthewhilelikethefaceyoumayreadofinMilton——likenoneotherIeversaw。Thenherose，stillwithoutaword，andwasseennomorethatmorning。’
　　ItiscuriousthatGordonhimselfneverunderstoodthepartthatMr。Gladstonewasplayinginhisdestiny。HisKhartoumjournalsputthisbeyondadoubt。ExceptforoneortwoslightandjocularreferencestoMr。Gladstone’sminoridiosyncrasies——theshapeofhiscollars，andhispassionforfellingtrees，GordonleaveshimunnoticedwhilehelavisheshissardonichumouruponLordGranville。ButintruthLordGranvillewasanonentity。TheerrorshowshowdimtherealitiesofEnglandhadgrowntothewatcherinKhartoum。Whenhelookedtowardshome，thefigurethatloomedlargestuponhisvisionwas——itwasonlynaturalthatitshouldhavebeensothenearest——itwasuponSirEvelynBaringthathefixedhisgaze。Forhim，SirEvelynBaringwastheembodimentofEngland——orrathertheembodimentoftheEnglishofficialclasses，ofEnglishdiplomacy，oftheEnglishGovernmentwithitshesitations，itsinsincerities，itsdouble-facedschemes。SirEvelynBaring，healmostcametothinkatmoments，wastheprimemover，thesolecontriver，ofthewholeSudanimbroglio。
　　Inthishewaswrong；forSirEvelynBaring，ofcourse，wasanintermediary，withoutfinalresponsibilityorfinalpower；butGordon’sprofoundantipathy，hisinstinctivedistrust，werenotwithouttheirjustification。HecouldneverforgetthatfirstmeetinginCairo，sixyearsearlier，whenthefundamentalhostilitybetweenthetwomenhadleapttothesurface。’Whenoilmixeswithwater，’hesaid，’wewillmixtogether。’SirEvelynBaringthoughtsotoo；buthedidnotsayso；itwasnothisway。
　　Whenhespoke，hefeltnotemptationtoexpresseverythingthatwasinhismind。Inallhedid，hewascautious，measured，unimpeachablycorrect。ItwouldbedifficulttothinkofamanmorecompletelytheantithesisofGordon。Histemperament，allinmonochrome，touchedinwithcoldbluesandindecisivegreys，waseminentlyunromantic。Hehadasteelycolourlessness，andasteelypliability，andasteelystrength。Endowedbeyondmostmenwiththecapacityofforesight，hewasendowedasveryfewmenhaveeverbeenwiththatstaying-powerwhichmakesthefruitofforesightattainable。Hisviewswerelong，andhispatiencewasevenlonger。Heprogressedimperceptibly；heconstantlywithdrew；
　　theartofgivingwayhepractisedwiththerefinementofavirtuoso。But，thoughthesteelrecoiledandrecoiled，intheenditwouldspringforward。Hislife’sworkhadinitanelementofparadox。ItwaspassedentirelyintheEast；andtheEastmeantverylittletohim；hetooknointerestinit。Itwassomethingtobelookedafter。ItwasalsoaconvenientfieldforthetalentsofSirEvelynBaring。Yetitmustnotbesupposedthathewascynical；perhapshewasnotquitegreatenoughforthat。Helookedforwardtoapleasantretirement——acountryplace——someliteraryrecreations。Hehadbeencarefultokeepuphisclassics。Hisambitioncanbestatedinasinglephrase——itwastobecomeaninstitution；andheachievedit。Nodoubt，too，hedeservedit。Thegreatestofpoets，inabittermood，hasdescribedthecharacteristicsofacertainclassofpersons，whomhedidnotlike。’They，’hesays，’thathavepowertohurtandwilldonone，Thatdonotdothethingstheymostdoshow，Who，movingothers，arethemselvesasstone，Unmoved，cold，andtotemptationslow，Theyrightlydoinheritheaven’sgraces，Andhusbandnature’srichesfromexpense；Theyarethelordsandownersoftheirfaces……’
　　ThewordsmighthavebeenwrittenforSirEvelynBaring。
　　Though，asarule，hefounditeasytodespisethosewithwhomhecameintocontact，hecouldnotaltogetherdespiseGeneralGordon。Ifhecouldhave，hewouldhavedislikedhimless。Hehadgoneasfarashiscautionhadallowedhimintryingtopreventthefatalappointment；andthen，whenithadbecomeclearthattheGovernmentwasinsistent，hehadyieldedwithagoodgrace。
　　Foramoment，hehadimaginedthatallmightyetbewell；thathecouldimposehimself，bytheweightofhispositionandtheforceofhissagacity，uponhisself-willedsubordinate；thathecouldholdhiminaleashattheendofthetelegraphwiretoKhartoum。
　　Verysoonheperceivedthatthiswasamiscalculation。Tohisdisgust，hefoundthatthetelegraphwire，farfrombeinganinstrumentofofficialdiscipline，hadbeenconvertedbytheagilestrategistattheotherendofitintoameansofextendinghisownpersonalityintothedeliberationsatCairo。EverymorningSirEvelynBaringwouldfinduponhistableagreatpileoftelegramsfromKhartoum——twentyorthirtyatleast；andasthedaywenton，thepilewouldgrow。Whenasufficientnumberhadaccumulatedhewouldreadthemallthrough，withthegreatestcare。Thereuponthetable，thewholesoulofGordonlaybeforehim——initsincoherence，itseccentricity，itsimpulsiveness，itsromance；thejokes，theslang，theappealstotheprophetIsaiah，thewhirlofcontradictorypolicies——SirEvelynBaringdidnotknowwhichexasperatedhimmost。Hewouldnotconsiderwhether，ortowhatdegree，themanwasamaniac；no，hewouldnot。A
　　subacidsmilewastheonlycommentheallowedhimself。Hisposition，indeed，wasanextremelydifficultone，andallhisdexteritywouldbeneededifhewastoemergefromitwithcredit。
　　OnonesideofhimwasaveeringandvacillatingGovernment；ontheother，afrenziedenthusiast。Itwashisbusinesstointerprettothefirstthewishes，orrathertheinspirations，ofthesecond，andtoconveytothesecondthedecisions，orrathertheindecisions，ofthefirst。AweakermanwouldhavefloatedhelplesslyontheebbandflowoftheCabinet’swaveringpolicies；arashermanwouldhaveplungedheadlongintoGordon’sschemes。Hedidneither；withasingularcourageandasingularcautionheprogressedalongarazor-edge。HedevotedallhisenergiestothedoubletaskofevolvingareasonablepolicyoutofGordon’sintoxicatedtelegrams，andofinducingthedividedMinistersathometogivetheirsanctiontowhathehadevolved。
　　Hemighthavesucceeded，ifhehadnothadtoreckonwithyetanotherirreconcilable；Timewasavitalelementinthesituation，andTimewasagainsthim。WhenthetribesroundKhartoumrose，thelasthopeofasatisfactorysolutionvanished。
　　Hewasthefirsttoperceivethealteredconditionofaffairs；
　　longbeforetheGovernment，longbeforeGordonhimself，heunderstoodthattheonlyremainingquestionwasthatoftheextricationoftheEnglishmenfromKhartoum。HeproposedthatasmallforceshouldbedispatchedatonceacrossthedesertfromSuakintoBarber，thepointontheNilenearesttotheRedSea，andthenceuptherivertoGordon；but，afterconsiderablehesitation，themilitaryauthoritiesdecidedthatthiswasriotapracticableplan。Uponthat，heforesaw，withperfectlucidity，theinevitabledevelopmentofevents。Soonerorlater，itwouldbeabsolutelynecessarytosendareliefexpeditiontoKhartoum；
　　and，fromthatpremise，itfollowed，withoutapossibilityofdoubt，thatitwasthedutyoftheGovernmenttodosoatonce。
　　Thishesawquiteclearly；buthealsosawthatthepositionintheCabinethadnowaltered，thatMr。Gladstonehadtakenthereinsintohisownhands。AndMr。Gladstonedidnotwishtosendareliefexpedition。WhatwasSirEvelynBaringtodo？WashetopithisstrengthagainstMr。Gladstone’s？Tothreatenresignation？TostakehiswholefutureuponGeneralGordon’sfate？Foramomenthewavered；heseemedtohintthatunlesstheGovernmentsentamessagetoKhartoumpromisingareliefexpeditionbeforetheendoftheyear，hewouldbeunabletobeapartytotheiracts。TheGovernmentrefusedtosendanysuchmessage；andheperceived，ashetellsus，that’itwasevidentlyuselesstocontinuethecorrespondenceanyfurther’。Afterall，whatcouldhedo？Hewasstillonlyasecondaryfigure；hisresignationwouldbeaccepted；hewouldbegivenacolonialgovernorshipandGordonwouldbenonearersafety。Butthen，couldhesitbyandwitnessahorriblecatastrophe，withoutliftingahand？Ofalltheodiousdilemmaswhichthatmanhadputhimintothis，hereflected，wasthemostodious。Heslightlyshruggedhisshoulders。No；hemighthave’powertohurt’，buthewould’donone’。Hewroteadispatch——along，balanced，guarded，greydispatch，informingtheGovernmentthathe’venturedtothink’thatitwas’aquestionworthyofconsiderationwhetherthenavalandmilitaryauthoritiesshouldnottakesomepreliminarystepsinthewayofpreparingboats，etc。，soastobeabletomove，shouldthenecessityarise’。Then，withinaweek，beforethereceiptoftheGovernment’sanswer，heleftEgypt。FromtheendofApriluntilthebeginningofSeptember——
　　duringthemostmomentousperiodofthewholecrisis，hewasengagedinLondonuponafinancialconference，whilehisplacewastakeninCairobyasubstitute。Withacharacteristicallyconvenientunobtrusiveness，SirEvelynBaringhadvanishedfromthescene。
　　Meanwhile，fartothesouthward，overthewide-spreadinglandswateredbytheUpperNileanditstributaries，thepowerandthegloryofhimwhohadoncebeenMohammedAhmedweregrowingstill。
　　IntheBahr-el-Ghazal，thelastembersofresistancewerestampedoutwiththecaptureofLuptonBey，andthroughthewholeofthatvastprovincethreetimesthesizeofEngland——everytraceoftheEgyptianGovernmentwasobliterated。StillfarthersouththesamefatewasrapidlyovertakingEquatoria，whereEmirPasha，withdrawingintotheunexploreddepthsofCentralAfrica，carriedwithhimthelastvestigesoftheoldorder。TheMahdihimselfstilllingeredinhisheadquartersatElObeid；but，ontherisingofthetribesroundKhartoum，hehaddecidedthatthetimeforanoffensivemovementhadcome，andhaddispatchedanarmof30，000mentolaysiegetothecity。Atthesametime，inalongandelaborateproclamation，inwhichheasserted，withalltheeleganceoforientalrhetoric，boththesanctityofhismissionandtheinvincibilityofhistroops，hecalledupontheinhabitantstosurrender。Gordonreadaloudthesummonstotheassembledtownspeople；withonevoicetheydeclaredthattheywerereadytoresist。ThiswasafalseMahdi，theysaid；Godwoulddefendtheright；theyputtheirtrustintheGovernor-
　　General。ThemostlearnedSheikhinthetowndrewupatheologicalreply，pointingoutthattheMahdididnotfulfiltherequirementsoftheancientprophets。Athisappearance，hadtheEuphratesdriedupandrevealedahillofgold？Hadcontradictionanddifferenceceasedupontheearth？And，moreover，didnotthefaithfulknowthatthetrueMahdiwasbornintheyearoftheProphet255，fromwhichitsurelyfollowedthathemustbenow1，046yearsold？Andwasitnotcleartoallmenthatthispretenderwasnotatenthofthatage？
　　Theseargumentswerecertainlyforcible；buttheMahdi’sarmywasmoreforciblestill。Thebesiegedsalliedouttotheattack；theyweredefeated；andtheroutthatfollowedwassodisgracefulthattwoofthecommandingofficerswere，byGordon’sorders，executedastraitors。FromthatmomenttheregularinvestmentofKhartoumbegan。TheArabgeneralsdecidedtostarvethetownintosubmission。When，afterafewweeksofdoubt，itbecamecertainthatnoBritishforcewasonitswayfromSuakintosmashuptheMahdi，andwhen，attheendofMay，Berber，thelastconnectinglinkbetweenKhartoumandtheoutsideworld，fellintothehandsoftheenemy，Gordonsethisteeth，andsatdowntowaitandtohope，asbesthemight。Withunceasingenergyhedevotedhimselftothestrengtheningofhisdefencesandtheorganisationofhisresources——tothediggingofearthworks，themanufactureofammunition，thecollectionandthedistributionoffood。Everydaythereweresalliesandskirmishes；everydayhislittlearmouredsteamboatspaddledupanddowntheriver，scatteringdeathandterrorastheywent。Whatevertheemergency，hewasreadywithdevicesandexpedients。Whentheearthworkswerestilluncompletedheprocuredhundredsofyardsofcotton，whichhedyedthecolourofearth，andspreadoutinlong，slopinglines，soastodeceivetheArabs，whiletherealworkswerebeingpreparedfartherback。Whenalackofmoneybegantomakeitselffelt，heprintedandcirculatedapapercoinageofhisown。Tocombatthegrowingdiscontentanddisaffectionofthetownspeople，heinstitutedasystemofordersandmedals；thewomenwerenotforgotten；andhispopularityredoubled。TherewasterrorinthethoughtthatharmmightcometotheGovernor-
　　General。Aweandreverencefollowedhim；whereverhewenthewassurroundedbyavigilantandjealousguard，likesomepreciousidol，somemascotofvictory。Howcouldhegoaway？Howcouldhedeserthispeople？Itwasimpossible。Itwouldbe，ashehimselfexclaimedinoneofhislatesttelegramstoSirEvelynBaring，’theclimaxofmeanness’，eventocontemplatesuchanact。SirEvelynBaringthoughtdifferently。InhisopinionitwasGeneralGordon’splaindutytohavecomeawayfromKhartoum。Tostayinvolvedinevitablyareliefexpedition——agreatexpenseoftreasureandthelossofvaluablelives；tocomeawaywouldmerelymeanthattheinhabitantsofKhartoumwouldbe’takenprisonerbytheMahdi’。SoSirEvelynBaringputit；butthecasewasnotquitesosimpleasthat。WhenBerberfell，therehadbeenamassacrelastingfordays——anappallingorgyoflootandlustandslaughter；whenKhartoumitselfwascaptured，whatfollowedwasstillmoreterrible。Decidedly，itwasnochild’splaytobe’takenprisonerbytheMahdi’。AndGordonwasactuallythere，amongthosepeople，inclosestintercoursewiththem，responsible，beloved。Yes；nodoubt。Butwasthatintruth，hisonlymotive？Didhenotwishinreality，bylingeringinKhartoum，toforcethehandoftheGovernment？Toobligethem，whethertheywouldorno，tosendanarmytosmashuptheMahdi？
　　Andwasthatfair？WasTHAThisduty？Hemightprotest，withhislastbreath，thathehad’triedtodohisduty’；SirEvelynBaring，atanyrate，wouldnotagree。
　　ButSirEvelynBaringwasinaudible，andGordonnowcaredverylittleforhisopinions。Isitpossiblethat，ifonlyforamoment，inhisextraordinarypredicament，hemayhavelistenedtoanotherandaverydifferentvoice——avoiceofsingularquality，avoicewhich——forsoonewouldfainimagine——maywellhavewakenedsomefamiliarechoesinhisheart？Oneday，hereceivedaprivateletterfromtheMahdi。Theletterwasaccompaniedbyasmallbundleofclothes。’InthenameofGod！’wrotetheMahdi，’herewithasuitofclothes，consistingofacoatjibbeh，anovercoat，aturban，acap，agirdle，andbeads。Thisistheclothingofthosewhohavegivenupthisworldanditsvanities，andwholookfortheworldtocome，foreverlastinghappinessinParadise。IfyoutrulydesiretocometoGodandseektoliveagodlylife，youmustatoncewearthissuit，andcomeouttoacceptyoureverlastinggoodfortune。’DidthewordsbearnomeaningtothemysticofGravesend？ButhewasanEnglishgentleman，anEnglishofficer。Heflungtheclothestotheground，andtrampledontheminthesightofall。Then，alone，hewentuptotheroofofhishighpalace，andturnedthetelescopeoncemore，almostmechanically，towardsthenorth。
　　Butnothingbroketheimmovabilityofthathardhorizon；and，indeed，howwasitpossiblethathelpshouldcometohimnow？Heseemedtobeutterlyabandoned。SirEvelynBaringhaddisappearedintohisfinancialconference。InEngland，Mr。Gladstonehadheldfirm，hadoutfacedtheHouseofCommons，hadignoredthePress。
　　Heappearedtohavetriumphed。ThoughitwasclearthatnopreparationsofanykindwerebeingmadeforthereliefofGordon，theanxietyandagitationofthepublic，whichhadrisensosuddenlytosuchaheightofvehemence，haddieddown。Thedangerousbeasthadbeenquelledbythesterneyeofitsmaster。
　　Otherquestionsbecamemoreinteresting——theReformBill，theRussians，theHouseofLords。Gordon，silentinKhartoum，hadalmostdroppedoutofremembrance。Andyet，helpdidcomeafterall。Anditcamefromanunexpectedquarter。LordHartingtonhadbeenforsometimeconvincedthathewasresponsibleforGordon’sappointment；andhisconsciencewasbeginningtogrowuncomfortable。
　　LordHartington’sconsciencewasofapiecewiththerestofhim。
　　Itwasnot，likeMr。Gladstone’s，asalamander-conscience——anintangible，dangerouscreature，thatlovedtoliveinthefire；
　　norwasit，likeGordon’s，arestlessconscience；nor，likeSirEvelynBaring’s，adiplomaticconscience；itwasacommonplaceaffair。LordHartingtonhimselfwouldhavebeendisgustedbyanymentionofit。Ifhehadbeenobliged，hewouldhavealludedtoitdistantly；hewouldhavemutteredthatitwasaborenottodotheproperthing。Hewasusuallybored——foronereasonoranother；butthisparticularformofboredomhefoundmoreintensethanalltherest。Hewouldtakeendlesspainstoavoidit。Ofcourse，thewholethingwasanuisance——anobviousnuisance；andeveryoneelsemustfeeljustashedidaboutit。
　　Andyetpeopleseemedtohavegotitintotheirheadsthathehadsomekindofspecialfacultyinsuchmatters——thattherewassomepeculiarvalueinhisjudgmentonaquestionofrightandwrong。
　　Hecouldnotunderstandwhyitwas；butwhenevertherewasadisputeaboutcardsinaclub，itwasbroughttohimtosettle。
　　Itwasmostodd。Butitwastrite。Inpublicaffairs，nolessthaninprivate，LordHartington’sdecisionscarriedanextraordinaryweight。ThefeelingofhisidlefriendsinhighsocietywassharedbythegreatmassoftheEnglishpeople；herewasamantheycouldtrust。Forindeedhewasbuiltuponapatternwhichwasverydeartohiscountrymen。Itwasnotsimplythathewashonest：itwasthathishonestywasanEnglishhonesty——anhonestwhichnaturallybelongedtoonewho，soitseemedtothem，wasthelivingimageofwhatanEnglishmanshouldbe。
　　InLordHartingtontheysaw，embodiedandglorified，theveryqualitieswhichwerenearesttotheirhearts——impartiality，solidity，commonsense——thequalitiesbywhichtheythemselveslongedtobedistinguished，andbywhich，intheirhappiermoments，theybelievedtheywere。Ifevertheybegantohavemisgivings，there，atanyrate，wastheexampleofLordHartingtontoencouragethemandguidethem——LordHartingtonwhowasneverself-seeking，whowasneverexcited，andwhohadnoimaginationatall。Everythingtheyknewabouthimfittedintothepicture，addingtotheiradmirationandrespect。Hisfondnessforfieldsportsgavethemafeelingofsecurity；andcertainlytherecouldbenononsenseaboutamanwhoconfessedtotwoambitions——tobecomePrimeMinisterandtowintheDerby——andwhoputthesecondabovethefirst。Theylovedhimforhiscasualness——forhisinexactness——forrefusingtomakelifeacut-
　　and-driedbusiness——forramminganofficialdispatchofhighimportanceintohiscoat-pocket，andfindingitthere，stillunopened，atNewmarket，severaldayslater。Theylovedhimforhishatredoffinesentiments；theyweredelightedwhentheyheardthatatsomefunction，onafloridspeaker’savowingthat’thiswastheproudestmomentofhislife’，LordHartingtonhadgrowledinanundertone’theproudestmomentofmylifewaswhenMYpigwontheprizeatSkiptonFair’。Aboveall，theylovedhimforbeingdull。Itwasthegreatestcomfort——withLordHartingtontheycouldalwaysbeabsolutelycertainthathewouldnever，inanycircumstances，beeitherbrilliant，orsubtle，orsurprising，orimpassioned，orprofound。Astheysat，listeningtohisspeeches，inwhichconsiderationsofstolidplainnesssucceededoneanotherwithcompleteflatness，theyfelt，involvedandsupportedbythecolossaltedium，thattheirconfidencewasfinallyassured。Theylookedup，andtooktheirfillofthesturdy，obviouspresence。Theinheritorofasplendiddukedommightalmosthavepassedforafarmhand。Almost，butnotquite。
　　Foranairthatwasdifficulttoexplain，ofpreponderatingauthority，lurkedinthesolidfigure；andthelordlybreedingoftheHouseofCavendishwasvisibleinthelarge，long，bearded，unimpressionableface。
　　Oneothercharacteristic——thenecessaryconsequence，or，indeed，itmightalmostbesaid，theessentialexpression，ofalltherest——completestheportrait：LordHartingtonwasslow。Hewasslowinmovement，slowinapprehension，slowinthoughtandthecommunicationofthought，slowtodecide，andslowtoact。Morethanoncethisdispositionexercisedaprofoundeffectuponhiscareer。Aprivateindividualmay，perhaps，beslowwithimpunity；
　　butastatesmanwhoisslow——whatevertheforceofhischaracterandthestrengthofhisjudgment——canhardlyescapeunhurtfromthehurryingofTime’swingedchariot，canhardlyhopetoavoidsomegravedisasterorsomeirretrievablemistake。ThefateofGeneralGordon，sointricatelyinterwovenwithsuchamassofcomplicatedcircumstancewiththepoliciesofEnglandandofEgypt，withthefanaticismoftheMahdi，withtheirreproachabilityofSirEvelynBaring，withMr。Gladstone’smysteriouspassions——wasfinallydeterminedbythefactthatLordHartingtonwasslow。Ifhehadbeenevenaverylittlequicker——ifhehadbeenquickerbytwodays……butitcouldnotbe。Theponderousmachinerytooksolongtosetitselfinmotion；
　　thegreatwheelsandlevers，oncestarted，revolvedwithsuchalaborious，suchapainfuldeliberation，thatatlasttheirworkwasaccomplished——surely，firmly，completely，inthebestEnglishmanner，andtoolate。
　　SevenstagesmaybediscernedinthehistoryofLordHartington’sinfluenceuponthefateofGeneralGordon。Attheendofthefirststage，hehadbecomeconvincedthathewasresponsibleforGordon’sappointmenttoKhartoum。Attheendofthesecond，hehadperceivedthathisconsciencewouldnotallowhimtoremaininactiveinthefaceofGordon’sdanger。Attheendofthethird，hehadmadeanattempttoinducetheCabinettosendanexpeditiontoGordon’srelief。Attheendofthefourth，hehadrealisedthattheCabinethaddecidedtopostponethereliefofGordonindefinitely。Attheendofthefifth，hehadcometotheconclusionthathemustputpressureuponMr。Gladstone。Attheendofthesixth，hehadattemptedtoputpressureuponMr。
　　Gladstone，andhadnotsucceeded。Attheendoftheseventh，hehadsucceededinputtingpressureuponMr。Gladstone；thereliefexpeditionhadbeenordered；hecoulddonomore。
　　Theturning-pointinthislongandextraordinaryprocessoccurredtowardstheendofApril，whentheCabinet，afterthereceiptofSirEvelynBaring’sfinaldispatch，decidedtotakenoimmediatemeasuresforGordon’srelief。FromthatmomentitwasclearthattherewasonlyonecourseopentoLordHartington——totellMr。
　　Gladstonethathewouldresignunlessareliefexpeditionwassent。Butittookhimmorethanthreemonthstocometothisconclusion。HealwaysfoundtheproceedingsatCabinetmeetingsparticularlyhardtofollow。Theinterchangeofquestionandanswer，ofproposalandcounterproposal，thecrowdedcounsellors，Mr。Gladstone’ssubtleties，theabruptandcomplicatedresolutions——thesethingsinvariablylefthimconfusedandperplexed。AfterthecrucialCabinetattheendofApril，hecameawayinastateofuncertaintyastowhathadoccurred；hehadtowritetoLordGranvilletofindout；andbythattime，ofcourse，theGovernment’sdecisionhadbeentelegraphedtoEgypt。Threeweekslater，inthemiddleofMay，hehadgrownsouneasythathefelthimselfobligedtoaddressacircularlettertotheCabinetproposingthatpreparationsforareliefexpeditionshouldbesetonfootatonce。AndthenhebegantounderstandthatnothingwouldeverbedoneuntilMr。Gladstone，bysomemeansorother，hadbeenforcedtogivehisconsent。Asingularcombatfollowed。
　　Theslipperyoldmanperpetuallyeludedthecumbrousgraspofhisantagonist。Hedelayed，hepostponed，heraisedinterminabledifficulties，heprevaricated，hewassilent，hedisappeared。
　　LordHartingtonwasdauntless。Gradually，inchbyinch，hedrovethePrimeMinisterintoacorner。Butinthemeantimemanyweekshadpassed。OnJuly1st，LordHartingtonwasstillremarkingthathe’reallydidnotfeelthatheknewthemindorintentionoftheGovernmentinrespectofthereliefofGeneralGordon’。ThemonthwasspentinasuccessionofstubborneffortstowringfromMr。
　　Gladstonesomedefinitestatementuponthequestion。Itwasuseless。OnJuly31st，LordHartingtondidthedeed。Hestatedthat，unlessanexpeditionwassent，hewouldresign。Itwas，hesaid，’aquestionofpersonalhonourandgoodfaith，andIdon’tseehowIcanyielduponit’。Hisconsciencehadworkeditselftorestatlast。
　　WhenMr。Gladstonereadthewords，herealisedthatthegamewasover。LordHartington’spositionintheLiberalPartywassecondonlytohisown；hewastheleaderoftherichandpowerfulWhigaristocracy；hisinfluencewiththecountrywasimmense。Norwashethemantomakeidlethreatsofresignation；hehadsaidhewouldresign，andresignhewould：thecollapseoftheGovernmentwouldbetheinevitableresult。OnAugust5th，therefore，Parliamentwasaskedtomakeagrantof￡300，000，inorder’toenableHerMajesty’sGovernmenttoundertakeoperationsforthereliefofGeneralGordon，shouldtheybecomenecessary’。Themoneywasvoted；andeventhen，atthatlasthour，Mr。Gladstonemadeanother，final，desperatetwist。Tryingtosavehimselfbytheprovisowhichhehadinsertedintotheresolution，hedeclaredthathewasstillunconvincedofthenecessityofanyoperationsatall。’Inearly，’hewrotetoLordHartington，’butnotquite，adoptwordsreceivedtodayfromGranville。“Itisclear，Ithink，thatGordonhasourmessages，anddoesnotchoosetoanswerthem。”’Nearly，butnotquite！Thequalificationwasmasterly；butitwasofnoavail。Thistime，thesinuouscreaturewasheldbytoofirmagrasp。OnAugust26th，LordWolseleywasappointedtocommandthereliefexpedition；andonSeptember9th，hearrivedinEgypt。
　　Thereliefexpeditionhadbegun，andatthesamemomentanewphaseopenedatKhartoum。TheannualrisingoftheNilewasnowsufficientlyadvancedtoenableoneofGordon’ssmallsteamerstopassoverthecataractsdowntoEgyptinsafety。HedeterminedtoseizetheopportunityoflayingbeforetheauthoritiesinCairoandLondon，andtheEnglishpublicatlarge，anexactaccountofhisposition。Acargoofdocuments，includingColonelStewart’sDiaryofthesiegeandapersonalappealforassistanceaddressedbyGordontoalltheEuropeanpowers，wasplacedonboardtheAbbas；fourothersteamersweretoaccompanyheruntilshewasoutofdangerfromattacksbytheMahdi’stroops；afterwhich，shewastoproceedaloneintoEgypt。OntheeveningofSeptember9th，justasshewasabouttostart，theEnglishandFrenchConsulsaskedforpermissiontogowithher——apermissionwhichGordon，whohadlongbeenanxioustoprovidefortheirsafety，readilygranted。ThenColonelStewartmadethesamerequest；andGordonconsentedwiththesamealacrity。
　　ColonelStewartwasthesecond-in-commandatKhartoum；anditseemsstrangethatheshouldhavemadeaproposalwhichwouldleaveGordoninapositionofthegravestanxietywithoutasingleEuropeansubordinate。Buthismotivesweretobeveiledforeverinatragicobscurity。TheAbbasandherconvoysetout。
　　HenceforwardtheGovernor-Generalwasalone。Hehadnow，definitelyandfinally，madehisdecision。ColonelStewartandhiscompanionshadgone，witheveryprospectofreturningunharmedtocivilisation。Mr。Gladstone’sbeliefwasjustified；
　　sofarasGordon’spersonalsafetywasconcerned，hemightstill，atthislatehour，havesecuredit。Buthehadchosen——hestayedatKhartoum。
　　Nosoonerwerethesteamersoutofsightthanhesatdownathiswriting-tableandbeganthatdailyrecordofhiscircumstances，hisreflections，andhisfeelings，whichrevealstous，withsuchanauthenticexactitude，thefinalperiodofhisextraordinarydestiny。HisJournals，sentdowntheriverinbatchestoawaitthecomingofthereliefexpedition，andaddressed，firsttoColonelStewart，andlatertothe’ChiefofStaff，SudanExpeditionaryForce’，wereofficialdocuments，intendedforpublication，though，asGordonhimselfwascarefultonoteontheoutercovers，theywould’wantpruningout’beforetheywereprinted。Healsowrote，ontheenvelopeofthefirstsection，’NosecretsasfarasIamconcerned’。Amoresingularsetofstatepaperswasnevercompiled。Sittingthere，inthesolitudeofhispalace，withruinclosingroundhim，withanxietiesoneveryhand，withdoomhangingabovehishead，helethispenrushonforhourafterhourinanecstasyofcommunication，atirelessunburdeningofthespirit，wherethemosttrivialincidentsofthepassingdayweremingledpell-mellwithphilosophicaldisquisitions；wherejestsandanger，hopesandterrors，elaboratejustificationsandcynicalconfessions，jostledoneanotherinrecklessconfusion。Theimpulsive，demonstrativemanhadnobodytotalktoanymore，andsohetalkedinsteadtothepileoftelegraphforms，which，uselessnowforperplexingSirEvelynBaring，servedverywell——fortheywerelargeandblank——
　　astherepositoriesofhisconversation。HistonewasnottheintimateandreligioustonewhichhewouldhaveusedwiththeRev。Mr。BarnesorhissisterAugusta；itwassuchasmusthavebeenhabitualwithhiminhisintercoursewitholdfriendsorfellow-officers，whosereligiousviewswereofamoreordinarycastethanhisown，butwithwhomhewasonconfidentialterms。
　　Hewasanxioustoputhiscasetoaselectandsympatheticaudience——toconvincesuchamanasLordWolseleythathewasjustifiedinwhathehaddone；andhewassparinginhisallusionstothehandofProvidence，whilethosemysteriousdoubtsandpiercingintrospections，whichmusthavefilledhim，healmostentirelyconcealed。Heexpressedhimself，ofcourse，witheccentricABANDON——itwouldhavebeenimpossibleforhimtodootherwise；buthewascontenttoindicatehisdeepestfeelingswithafleer。Yetsometimes——asonecanimaginehappeningwithhiminactualconversation——hisutterancetooktheformofahalf-soliloquy，acopiousoutpouringaddressedtohimselfmorethantoanyoneelse，forhisownsatisfaction。TherearepassagesintheKhartoumJournalswhichcallupinaflashthelight，glidingfigure，andtheblueeyeswiththecandourofchildhoodstillshininginthem；onecanalmosthearthelowvoice，thesingularlydistinctarticulation，thepersuasive——theself-
　　persuasive——sentences，followingeachothersounassuminglybetweenthepuffsofacigarette。Ashewrote，twopreoccupationsprincipallyfilledhismind。Hisreflectionsrevolvedaroundtheimmediatepastandtheimpendingfuture。Withanunerringpersistencyheexamined，heexcused，heexplained，hisshareinthecomplicatedeventswhichhadledtohispresentsituation。Herebuttedthechargesofimaginaryenemies；helaidbaretheineptitudeandthefaithlessnessoftheEnglishGovernment。Hepouredouthissatireuponofficialsanddiplomatists。Hedrewcaricatures，inthemargin，ofSirEvelynBaring，withsentencesofshockedpompositycomingoutofhismouth。Insomepassages，whichtheeditoroftheJournalspreferredtosuppress，hecoveredLordGranvillewithhisraillery，picturingtheForeignSecretary，loungingawayhismorningatWalmerCastle，openingTheTimesandsuddenlydiscovering，tohishorror，thatKhartoumwasstillholdingout。’Why，HESAIDDISTINCTLYhecouldONLY
　　holdoutSIXMONTHS，andthatwasinMarchcountsthemonths。
　　August！why，heoughttohavegivenin！Whatistobedone？
　　They’llbehowlingforanexpedition……Itisnolaughingmatter；THATABOMINABLEMAHDI！Whyonearthdoeshenotguardhisroadsbetter？WHATIStobedone？’SeveraltimesinhisbitternessherepeatsthesuggestionthattheauthoritiesathomeweresecretlyhopingthatthefallofKhartoumwouldrelievethemoftheirdifficulties。’WhatthatMahdiisabout，LordGranvilleismadetoexclaiminanotherdeletedparagraph，’Icannotmakeout。Whydoeshenotputallhisgunsontheriverandstoptheroute？Ehwhat？“WewillhavetogotoKhartoum！“Why，itwillcostmillions，whatawretchedbusiness！What！SendZobeir？OurconsciencerecoilsfromTHAT；itiselastic，butnotequaltothat；itisapactwiththeDevil……DoyounotthinkthereisanywayofgettingholdofHIM，inaquietway？’IfaboyatEtonorHarrow，hedeclared，hadactedastheGovernmenthadacted，’ITHINKhewouldbekicked，andIAMSUREhewoulddeserveit’。Hewasthevictimofhypocritesandhumbugs。Therewas’nosortofparalleltoallthisinhistory——exceptDavidwithUriahtheHittite’；butthen’therewasanEveinthecase’，andhewasnotawarethattheGovernmenthadeventhatexcuse。
　　Fromthepast，heturnedtothefuture，andsurveyed，withadisturbedandpiercingvision，thepossibilitiesbeforehim。
　　Supposingthatthereliefexpeditionarrived，whatwouldbehisposition？Upononethinghewasdetermined：whateverhappened，hewouldnotplaythepartof’therescuedlamb’。HevehementlyassertedthatthepurposeoftheexpeditioncouldonlybethereliefoftheSudangarrisons；itwasmonstroustoimaginethatithadbeenundertakenmerelytoensurehispersonalsafety。Herefusedtobelieveit。Inanycase，’IdeclarePOSITIVELY，’hewrote，withpassionateunderlinings。’ANDONCEFORALL，THATI
　　WILLNOTLEAVETHESUDANUNTILEVERYONEWHOWANTSTOGODOWNIS
　　GIVENTHECHANCETODOSO，UNLESSagovernmentisestablishedwhichrelievesmeofthecharge；therefore，ifanyemissaryorlettercomesuphereorderingmetocomedown，IWILLNOTOBEYIT，BUTWILLSTAYHEREANDFALLWITHTHETOWN，ANDRUNALLRISKS’。
　　Thiswassheerinsubordination，nodoubt；buthecouldnothelpthat；itwasnotinhisnaturetobeobedient。’IknowifIwaschief，Iwouldneveremploymyself，forIamincorrigible。’
　　Decidedly，hewasnotafraidtobe’whatclubmencallinsubordinate，though，ofallinsubordinates，theclubmenaretheworst’。
　　Asforthegovernmentwhichwastoreplacehim，therewereseveralalternatives：anEgyptianPashamightsucceedhimasGovernor-General，orZobeirmightbeappointedafterall，orthewholecountrymightbehandedovertotheSultan。Hisfertileimaginationevolvedschemeafterscheme；andhisvisionsofhisownfuturewereequallyvarious。HewouldwithdrawtotheEquator；hewouldbedelightedtospendChristmasinBrussels；hewould……atanyratehewouldnevergobacktoEngland。Thatwascertain。’IdwellonthejoyofneverseeingGreatBritainagain，withitshorrid，wearisomedinner-partiesandmiseries。Howwecanputupwiththosethings，passesmyimagination！Itisaperfectbondage……Iwouldsoonerlive’likeaDervishwiththeMahdi，thangoouttodinnereverynightinLondon。Ihope，ifanyEnglishgeneralcomestoKhartoum，hewillnotaskmetodinner。Whymencannotbefriendswithoutbringingthewretchedstomachsin，isastounding。’
　　ButwouldanEnglishgeneraleverhavetheopportunityofaskinghimtodinnerinKhartoum？Thereweremomentswhenterriblemisgivingsassailedhim。Hepiecedtogetherhisscrapsofintelligencewithfeverishexactitude；hecalculatedtimes，distances，marches。’If，’hewroteonOctober24th，theydonotcomebefore30thNovember，thegameisup，andRuleBritannia。’
　　Curiouspremonitionscameintohismind。WhenheheardthattheMahdiwasapproachinginperson，itseemedtobethefulfilmentofadestiny，forhehad’alwaysfeltweweredoomedtocomefacetoface’。Whatwouldbetheendofitall？’Itis，ofcourse，onthecards，’henoted，’thatKhartoumistakenunderthenoseoftheExpeditionaryForce，whichwillbeJUSTTOOLATE。’ThesplendidhawksthatswoopedaboutthepalaceremindedhimofatextintheBible：’Theeyethatmockethathisfatheranddespisethtoobeyhismother，theravensofthevalleyshallpickitout，andtheyoungeaglesshalleatit。’’Ioftenwonder，’hewrote，’whethertheyaredestinedtopickmyeyes，forIfearI
　　wasnotthebestofsons。’
　　So，sittinglateintothenight，hefilledtheemptytelegraphformswiththeagitationsofhisspirit，overflowingevermorehurriedly，morefuriously，withlinesofemphasis，andcapitals，andexclamation-marksmoreandmorethicklyinterspersed，sothatthesignsofhislivingpassionarestillvisibletotheinquireroftodayonthosethinsheetsofmediocrepaperandinthetorrentoftheink。Buthewasamanofelastictemperament；hecouldnotremainforeveruponthestretch；hesought，andhefound，relaxationinextraneousmatters——inmetaphysicaldigressions，orinsatiricaloutbursts，orinthesmalldetailsofhisdailylife。ItamusedhimtohavetheSudanesesoldiersbroughtinandshowntheir’blackpugfaces’inthepalacelooking-glasses。Hewatchedwithacynicalsympathytheimpertinenceofaturkey-cockthatwalkedinhiscourtyard。Hemadefriendswithamousewho，’judgingfromherswelled-outappearance’，wasalady，andcameandateoutofhisplate。ThecranesthatflewoverKhartoumintheirthousands，andwiththeircuriouscry，puthiminmindofthepoemsofSchiller，whichfeweverread，butwhichheadmiredhighly，thoughheonlyknewtheminBulwer’stranslation。HewrotelittledisquisitionsonPlutarchandpurgatory，onthefearofdeathandonthesixteenthchapteroftheKoran。Thentheturkey-cock，struttingwith’everyfeatheronend，andallthecoloursoftherainbowonhisneck’，attractedhimoncemore，andhefilledseveralpageswithhisopinionsupontheimmortalityofanimals，driftingontoadiscussionofman’spositionintheuniverse，andtheinfiniteknowledgeofGod。Itwasallcleartohim。Andyet——’whatacontradiction，islife！IhateHerMajesty’sGovernmentfortheirleavingtheSudanafterhavingcausedallitstroubles，yetI
　　believeourLordrulesheavenandearth，soIoughttohateHim，whichIsincerelydonot。’
　　Onepainfulthoughtobsessedhim。HebelievedthatthetwoEgyptianofficers，whohadbeenputtodeathafterthedefeatinMarch，hadbeenunjustlyexecuted。Hehadgivenwayto’outsideinfluences’；thetwoPashashadbeen’judiciallymurdered’。Againandagainhereferredtotheincidentwithahauntingremorse。
　　“TheTimes“，perhaps，wouldconsiderthathehadbeenjustified；
　　butwhatdidthatmatter？’IfTheTimessawthisinprint，itwouldsay，“Why，then，didyouactasyoudid？“towhichIfearI
　　havenoanswer。’Hedeterminedtomakewhatreparationhecould，andtosendthefamiliesoftheunfortunatePashas￡1，000each。
　　Onasimilar，butalessserious，occasion，heputthesameprincipleintoaction。Heboxedtheearsofacarelesstelegraphclerk——’andthen，asmyconscienceprickedme，Igavehim$5。HesaidhedidnotmindifIkilledhim——Iwashisfatherachocolate-colouredyouthoftwenty。’Histemper，indeed，wasgrowingmoreandmoreuncertain，ashehimselfwaswellaware。Heobservedwithhorrorthatmentrembledwhentheycameintohispresence——thattheirhandsshooksothattheycouldnotholdamatchtoacigarette。
　　Hetrustednoone。Lookingintothefacesofthosewhosurroundedhim，hesawonlytheill-dissimulatedsignsoftreacheryanddislike。Ofthe40，000inhabitantsofKhartoumhecalculatedthattwo-thirdswerewilling——wereperhapsanxious——tobecomethesubjectsoftheMahdi。’Thesepeoplearenotworthanygreatsacrifice，’hebitterlyobserved。TheEgyptianofficialswereutterlyincompetent；thesoldierswerecowards。Allhisadmirationwasreservedforhisenemies。ThemeanestoftheMahdi’sfollowerswas，herealised，’adeterminedwarrior，whocouldundergothirstandprivation，whonomorecaredforpainordeaththanifhewerestone’。Thosewerethemenwhom，ifthechoicehadlainwithhim，hewouldhavewishedtocommand。Andyet，strangelyenough，hepersistentlyunderratedthestrengthoftheforcesagainsthim。AhandfulofEnglishmen——ahandfulofTurkswould，hebelieved，beenoughtodefeattheMahdi’shostsanddestroyhisdominion。HeknewverylittleArabic，andhedependedforhisinformationuponafewignorantEnglish-speakingsubordinates。TheMahdihimselfheviewedwithambiguousfeelings。Hejibedathimasavulgarimpostor；butitiseasytoperceive，underhisscornfuljocularities，thetracesofanuneasyrespect。
　　Hespentlonghoursuponthepalaceroof，gazingnorthwards；buttheveilofmysteryandsilencewasunbroken。InspiteoftheeffortsofMajorKitchener，theofficerincommandoftheEgyptianIntelligenceService，hardlyanymessengerseverreachedKhartoum；andwhentheydid，theinformationtheybroughtwastormentinglyscanty。MajorKitchenerdidnotescapetheattentionsofGordon’spen。Whennewscameatlast，itwasterrible：ColonelStewartandhiscompanionshadbeenkilled。TheAbbas，afterhavingpasseduninjuredthroughthepartoftherivercommandedbytheMahdi’stroops，hadstruckuponarock；
　　ColonelStewarthaddisembarkedinsafety；and，whilehewaswaitingforcamelstoconveythedetachmentacrossthedesertintoEgypt，hadacceptedthehospitalityofalocalSheikh。
　　HardlyhadtheEuropeansenteredtheSheikh’shutwhentheyweresetuponandmurdered；theirnativefollowerssharedtheirfate。
　　ThetreacherousSheikhwasanadherentoftheMahdi，andtotheMahdiallColonelStewart’spapers，filledwithinformationastotheconditionofKhartoum，wereimmediatelysent。WhenthefirstrumoursofthedisasterreachedGordon，hepictured，inaflashofintuition，theactualdetailsofthecatastrophe。’Ifeelsomehowconvinced，’hewrote，theywerecapturedbytreachery……
　　StewartwasnotabitsuspiciousIammadeupofit。Icanseeinimaginationthewholescene，theSheikhinvitingthemtoland……thenarushofwildArabs，andallisover！’’Itisverysad，’headded，’butbeingordained，wemustnotmurmur。’Andyethebelievedthatthetrueresponsibilitylaywithhim；itwasthepunishmentofhisownsins。’Ilookonit，’washisunexpectedconclusion，’asbeingaNemesisonthedeathofthetwoPashas。’
　　Theworkingsofhisconsciencedidindeedtakeonsurprisingshapes。Ofthethreeex-governorsofDarfur，Bahr-el-Ghazal，andEquatoria，EminPashahaddisappeared，LuptonBeyhaddied，andSlatinPashawasheldincaptivitybytheMahdi。BybirthanAustrianandaCatholic，Slatin，inthelastdesperatestagesofhisresistance，hadadoptedtheexpedientofannouncinghisconversiontoMohammedanism，inordertowintheconfidenceofhisnativetroops。Onhiscapture，thefactofhisconversionprocuredhimsomedegreeofconsideration；and，thoughheoccasionallysufferedfromthecapricesofhismasters，hehadsofarescapedtheterriblepunishmentwhichhadbeenmetedouttosomeotheroftheMahdi’sEuropeanprisoners——thatofcloseconfinementinthecommongaol。HewasnowkeptprisonerinoneofthecampsintheneighbourhoodofKhartoum。HemanagedtosmugglethroughalettertoGordon，askingforassistance，incasehecouldmakehisescape。TothisletterGordondidnotreply。Slatinwroteagainandagain；hispiteousappeals，couchedinnolesspiteousFrench，madenoeffectupontheheartoftheGovernor-General。’Excellence！’hewrote，’J’aienvoyedeuxlettres，sansavoirrecuunereponsedevotreexcellence……
　　Excellence！j’aimebattu27FOISpourlegouvernementcontrel’ennemi——onm’aferideuxfois，etj’airienfaitcontrel’honneur——riendechosequidoitempechevotreexcellencedem’ecrirunereponsequejesaisquoifaire。JEVOUSPRIE，Excellence，dem’honoreavecunereponse。P。S。SivotreExcellenceontpeutetreentenduquej’aifaitquelquechosecontrel’honneurd’unofficieretcelavousempechedem’ecrir，jevouspriedemedonnerl’occasiondemedefendre，etjugezapreslaverite。’TheunfortunateSlatinunderstoodwellenoughthecauseofGordon’ssilence。Itwasinvainthatheexplainedthemotivesofhisconversion，invainthathepointedoutthatithadbeenmadeeasierforhimsincehehad，’PERHAPSUNHAPPILY，notreceivedastrictreligiouseducationathome’。Gordonwasadamant。Slatinhad’deniedhisLord’，andthatwasenough。HiscommunicationswithKhartoumwerediscoveredandhewasputinchains。WhenGordonheardofit，henotedthefactgrimlyinhisdiary，withoutacomment。
　　AmoreghastlyfateawaitedanotherEuropeanwhohadfallenintothehandsoftheMahdi。ClavierPain，aFrenchadventurer，whohadtakenpartintheCommune，andwhowasnowwandering，forreasonswhichhaveneverbeendiscovered，inthewastesoftheSudan，wasseizedbytheArabs，madeprisoner，andhurriedfromcamptocamp。Hewasattackedbyfever；butmercywasnotamongthevirtuesofthesavagesoldierswhoheldhimintheirpower。
　　Hoisteduponthebackofacamel，hewasbeingcarriedacrossthedesert，when，overcomebyweakness，helosthishold，andfelltotheground。Timeortroublewerenottobewasteduponaninfidel。Ordersweregiventhatheshouldbeimmediatelyburied；
　　theorderswerecarriedout；andinafewmomentsthecavalcadehadleftthelittlehillockfarbehind。ButsomeofthosewhowerepresentbelievedthatOlivierPainhadbeenstillbreathingwhenhisbodywascoveredwiththesand。
　　Gordon，onhearingthataFrenchmanhadbeencapturedbytheMahdi，becameextremelyinterested。TheideaoccurredtohimthatthismysteriousindividualwasnoneotherthanErnestRenan，’who，’hewrote，inhislastpublication’takesleaveoftheworld，andissaidtohavegoneintoAfrica，nottoreappearagain’。HehadmetRenanattheroomsoftheRoyalGeographicalSociety，hadnoticedthathelookedbored——theresult，nodoubt，oftoomuchadmiration——andhadfeltaninstinctthathewouldmeethimagain。Theinstinctnowseemedtobejustified。TherecouldhardlybeanydoubtthatitWASRenan；whoelsecoulditbe？’Ifhecomestothelines，’hedecided，’anditisRenan，I
　　shallgoandseehim，forwhateveronemaythinkofhisunbeliefinourLord，hecertainlydaredtosaywhathethought，andhehasnotchangedhiscreedtosavehislife。’ThatthemellifluousauthoroftheViedeJesusshouldhavedeterminedtoendhisdaysinthedepthsofAfrica，andhavecome，inaccordancewithanintuition，torenewhisacquaintancewithGeneralGordoninthelinesofKhartoum，wouldindeedhavebeenastrangeoccurrence；
　　butwhoshalllimitthestrangenessofthepossibilitiesthatlieinwaitforthesonsofmen？Atthatverymoment，inthesouth-
　　easterncorneroftheSudan，anotherFrenchman，ofapeculiareminence，wasfulfillingadestinymoreextraordinarythanthewildestromance。InthetownofHarrar，neartheRedSea，ArthurRimbaudsurveyedwithspleneticimpatiencethetragedyofKhartoum。’C’estjustementlesAnglais，’hewrote，’avecleurabsurdepolitique，quiminentdesormaislecommercedetoutescescotes。IlsontvoulutoutremanieretilssontarrivesafairepirequelesEgyptiensetlesTurcs，ruinespareux。LeurGordonestunidiot，leurWolseleyunane，ettoutesleursentreprisesunesuiteinsenseed’absurditesetdedepredations。’SowrotetheamazingpoetoftheSaisond’Enferamidthosefutileturmoilsofpettycommerce，inwhich，withaninexplicabledeliberation，hehadforgottentheenchantmentsofanunparalleledadolescence，forgottenthefogsofLondonandthestreetsofBrussels，forgottenParis，forgottenthesubtletiesandthefrenziesofinspiration，forgottentheagonisedembracesofVerlaine。
　　WhenthecontentsofColonelStewart’spapershadbeeninterpretedtotheMahdi，herealisedtheseriousconditionofKhartoum，anddecidedthatthetimehadcometopressthesiegetoafinalconclusion。AttheendofOctober，hehimself，attheheadofafresharmy，appearedoutsidethetown。Fromthatmoment，theinvestmentassumedamoreandmoremenacingcharacter。Thelackofprovisionsnowforthefirsttimebegantomakeitselffelt。November30th——thedatefixedbyGordonasthelastpossiblemomentofhisresistance——cameandwent；theExpeditionaryForcehadmadenosign。Thefortunatediscoveryofalargestoreofgrain，concealedbysomemerchantsforpurposesofspeculation，oncemorepostponedthecatastrophe。Buttheattackingarmygrewdailymoreactive；theskirmishesaroundthelinesandontherivermoredamagingtothebesieged；andtheMahdi’sgunsbegananintermittentbombardmentofthepalace。ByDecember10thitwascalculatedthattherewasnotfifteendays’
　　foodinthetown；’trulyIamworntoashadowwiththefoodquestion’，Gordonwrote；’itisonecontinuousdemand’。AtthesametimehereceivedtheominousnewsthatfiveofhissoldiershaddesertedtotheMahdi。Hispredicamentwasterrible；buthecalculated，fromafewdubiousmessagesthathadreachedhim，thattherelievingforcecouldnotbeveryfaraway。Accordingly，onthe14th，hedecidedtosenddownoneofhisfourremainingsteamers，theBordeen，tomeetitatMetemmah，inordertodelivertotheofficerincommandthelatestinformationastotheconditionofthetown。TheBordeencarrieddownthelastportionoftheJournals，andGordon’sfinalmessagestohisfriends。Owingtoamisunderstanding，hebelievedthatSirEvelynBaringwasaccompanyingtheexpeditionfromEgypt，andsomeofhislatestandmostsuccessfulsatiricalfanciesplayedaroundthevisionofthedistressedConsul-Generalperchedfordaysuponthepainfuleminenceofacamel’shump。’TherewasaslightlaughwhenKhartoumheardBaringwasbumpinghiswayuphere——aregularNemesis。’But，whenSirEvelynBaringactuallyarrived——
　　inwhatevercondition——whatwouldhappen？Gordonlosthimselfinthemultitudeofhisspeculations。Hisownobject，hedeclared，was，’ofcourse，tomaketracks’。Theninoneofhisstrangepremonitoryrhapsodies，hethrewout，halfinjestandhalfinearnest，thatthebestsolutionofallthedifficultiesofthefuturewouldbetheappointmentofMajorKitchenerasGovernor-
　　GeneraloftheSudan。TheJournalendeduponanoteofmenaceanddisdain：’NowMARKTHIS，iftheExpeditionaryForce，andIaskfornomorethan200men，doesnotcomeintendays，thetownmayfall；andIhavedonemybestforthehonourofourcountry。
　　Good-bye——C。G。G0RD0N。
　　’Yousendmenoinformation，thoughyouhavelotsofmoney。C。G。
　　G。’
　　TohissisterAugustahewasmoreexplicit。’Ideclinetoagree，’
　　hetoldher，’thattheexpeditioncomesformyrelief；itcomesforthereliefofthegarrisons，whichIfailedtoaccomplish。I
　　expectHerMajesty’sGovernmentareinapreciousragewithmeforholdingoutandforcingtheirhand。’Theadmissionissignificant。Andthencamethefinaladieux。’Thismaybethelastletteryouwillreceivefromme，forweareonourlastlegs，owingtothedelayoftheexpedition。However，Godrulesall，and，asHewillruletoHisgloryandourwelfare，Hiswillbedone。Ifear，owingtocircumstances，thatmyaffairsarepecuniarilynotoverbright……youraffectionatebrother，C。G。
　　G0RD0N。
　　’P。S。Iamquitehappy，thankGod，and，likeLawrence，IhaveTRIEDtodomyduty。’
　　ThedelayoftheexpeditionwasevenmoreseriousthanGordonhadsupposed。LordWolseleyhadmadethemostelaboratepreparations。
　　Hehadcollectedtogetherapickedarmyof10，000ofthefinestBritishtroops；hehadarrangedasystemofrivertransportswithinfinitecare。Foritwashisintentiontotakenorisks；hewouldadvanceinforceuptheNile；hehaddeterminedthatthefateofGordonshouldnotdependuponthedangeroushazardsofasmallandhastyexploit。Thereisnodoubt——inviewoftheoppositionwhichtherelievingforceactuallymetwith——thathisdecisionwasawiseone；butunfortunately，hehadmiscalculatedsomeoftheessentialelementsinthesituation。Whenhispreparationswereatlastcomplete，itwasfoundthattheNilehadsunksolowthattheflotillas，overwhichsomuchcarehadbeenlavished，anduponwhichdependedthewholesuccessofthecampaign，wouldbeunabletosurmountthecataracts。Atthesametime——itwasbythenthemiddleofNovember——amessagearrivedfromGordonindicatingthatKhartoumwasinseriousstraits。Itwasclearthatanimmediateadvancewasnecessary；theriverroutewasoutofthequestion；aswiftdashacrossthedesertwastheonlypossibleexpedientafterall。Butnopreparationsforlandtransporthadbeenmade；weekselapsedbeforeasufficientnumberofcamelscouldbecollected；andmoreweeksbeforethosecollectedweretrainedformilitarymarch。ItwasnotuntilDecember30th——morethanafortnightafterthelastentryinGordon’sJournal——thatSirHerbertStewart，attheheadof1，100
　　Britishtroops，wasabletoleaveKortionhismarchtowardsMetemmah，170milesacrossthedesert。Hisadvancewasslow，anditwastenaciouslydisputedby，theMahdi’sforces。TherewasadesperateengagementonJanuary17thatthewellsofAbuKlea；
　　theBritishsquarewasbroken；foramomentvictoryhunginthebalance；buttheArabswererepulsed。Onthe19ththerewasanotherfuriouslycontestedfight，inwhichSirHerbertStewartwaskilled。Onthe21st，theforce，nowdiminishedbyover250
　　casualties，reachedMetemmah。Threedayselapsedinreconnoiteringthecountry，andstrengtheningthepositionofthecamp。0nthe24th，SirCharlesWilson，whohadsucceededtothecommand，embarkedontheBordeen，andstarteduptheriverforKhartoum。Onthefollowingevening，thevesselstruckonarock，causingafurtherdelayoftwenty-fourhours。ItwasnotuntilJanuary28ththatSirCharlesWilson，arrivingunderaheavyfirewithinsightofKhartoum，sawthattheEgyptianflagwasnotflyingfromtheroofofthepalace。Thesignsofruinanddestructiononeveryhandshowedclearlyenoughthatthetownhadfallen。Thereliefexpeditionwastwodayslate。
　　ThedetailsofwhatpassedwithinKhartoumduringthelastweeksofthesiegeareunknowntous。InthediaryofBordeiniBey，aLevantinemerchant，wecatchafewglimpsesofthefinalstagesofthecatastrophe——ofthestarvingpopulace，theexhaustedgarrison，thefluctuationsofdespairandhope，thedauntlessenergyoftheGovernor-General。Stillheworkedon，indefatigably，apportioningprovisions，collectingammunition，consultingwiththetownspeople，encouragingthesoldiers。Hishairhadsuddenlyturnedquitewhite。Lateoneevening，BordeiniBeywenttovisithiminthepalace，whichwasbeingbombardedbytheMahdi’scannon。Thehighbuilding，brilliantlylightedup，affordedanexcellentmark。Astheshotcamewhistlingaroundthewindows，themerchantsuggestedthatitwouldbeadvisabletostopthemupwithboxesfullofsand。Uponthis，GordonPashabecameenraged。’Hecalleduptheguard，andgavethemorderstoshootmeifImoved；hethenbroughtaverylargelanternwhichwouldholdtwenty-fourcandles。HeandIthenputthecandlesintothesockets，placedthelanternonthetableinfrontofthewindow，litthecandles，andthenwesatdownatthetable。ThePashathensaid，“WhenGodwasportioningoutfeartoallthepeopleintheworld，atlastitcametomyturn，andtherewasnofearlefttogiveme。Go，tellallthepeopleinKhartoumthatGordonfearsnothing，forGodhascreatedhimwithoutfear。”’
　　OnJanuary5th，Omdurman，avillageontheoppositebankoftheNile，whichhadhithertobeenoccupiedbythebesieged，wastakenbytheArabs。Thetownwasnowcloselysurrounded，andeverychanceofobtainingfreshsupplieswascutoff。Thefaminebecameterrible；dogs，donkeys，skins，gum，palmfibre，weredevouredbythedesperateinhabitants。Thesoldiersstoodonthefortificationslikepiecesofwood。Hundredsdiedofhungerdaily：theircorpsesfilledthestreets；andthesurvivorshadnotthestrengthtoburythedead。Onthe20th，thenewsofthebattleofAbuKleareachedKhartoum。TheEnglishwerecomingatlast。Hoperose；everymorningtheGovernor-Generalassuredthetownspeoplethatonedaymorewouldseetheendoftheirsufferings；andnightafternighthiswordswereproveduntrue。
　　Onthe23rd，arumourspreadthataspyhadarrivedwithletters，andthattheEnglisharmywasathand。Amerchantfoundapieceofnewspaperlyingintheroad，inwhichitwasstatedthatthestrengthoftherelievingforceswas15，000men。Foramoment，hopeflickeredupagain，onlytorelapseoncemore。Therumour，theletters，theprintedpaper，allhadbeencontrivancesofGordontoinspirethegarrisonwiththecouragetoholdout。Onthe25th，itwasobviousthattheArabswerepreparinganattack，andadeputationoftheprincipalinhabitantswaitedupontheGovernor-General。Butherefusedtoseethem；BordeiniBeywasaloneadmittedtohispresence。Hewassittingonadivan，and，asBordeiniBeycameintotheroom，hesnatchedthefezfromhisheadandflungitfromhim。’WhatmorecanIsay？’heexclaimed，inavoicesuchasthemerchanthadneverheardbefore。’Thepeoplewillnolongerbelieveme。Ihavetoldthemoverandoveragainthathelpwouldbehere，butithasnevercome，andnowtheymustseeItellthemlies。Icandonothingmore。Go，andcollectallthepeopleyoucanonthelines，andmakeagoodstand。Nowleavemetosmokethesecigarettes。’BordeiniBeyknewthen，hetellsus，thatGordonPashawasindespair。Helefttheroom，havinglookedupontheGovernor-Generalforthelasttime。
　　WhentheEnglishforcereachedMetemmah，theMahdi，whohadoriginallyintendedtoreduceKhartoumtosurrenderthroughstarvation，decidedtoattemptitscapturebyassault。TherecedingNilehadleftoneportionofthetown’scircumferenceundefended；astheriverwithdrew，theramparthadcrumbled；abroadexpanseofmudwasleftbetweenthewallandthewater，andthesoldiers，overcomebyhungerandthelassitudeofhopelessness，hadtrustedtothemorasstoprotectthem，andneglectedtorepairthebreach。Earlyonthemorningofthe26th，theArabscrossedtheriveratthispoint。Themud，partiallydriedup，presentednoobstacle；nordidtheruinedfortification，feeblymannedbysomehalf-dyingtroops。
　　Resistancewasfutile，anditwasscarcelyoffered：theMahdi’sarmyswarmedintoKhartoum。Gordonhadlongdebatedwithhimselfwhathisactionshouldbeatthesuprememoment。’IshallneverD。V。，’hehadtoldSirEvelynBaring，’betakenalive。’Hehadhadgunpowderputintothecellarsofthepalace，sothatthewholebuildingmight，atamoment’snotice，beblownintotheair。Butthenmisgivingshadcomeuponhim；wasitnothisduty’tomaintainthefaith，and，ifnecessary，tosufferforit’？——toremainatorturedandhumiliatedwitnessofhisLordintheMahdi’schains？Theblowingupofthepalacewouldhave，hethought，’moreorlessthetaintofsuicide’，wouldbe，inaway，takingthingsoutofGod’shands’。Heremainedundecided；andmeanwhile，tobereadyforeverycontingency，hekeptoneofhislittlearmouredvesselscloseathandontheriver，withsteamup，dayandnight，totransporthim，ifsoheshoulddecide，southward，throughtheenemy，totherecessesofEquatoria。ThesuddenappearanceoftheArabs，thecompletecollapseofthedefence，savedhimthenecessityofmakinguphismind。Hehadbeenontheroof，inhisdressing-gown，whentheattackbegan；
　　andhehadonlytimetohurrytohisbedroom，tosliponawhiteuniform，andtoseizeupaswordandarevolver，beforetheforemostoftheassailantswereinthepalace。ThecrowdwasledbyfourofthefiercestoftheMahdi’sfollowers——tallandswarthyDervishes，splendidintheirmany-colouredjibbehs，theirgreatswordsdrawnfromtheirscabbardsofbrassandvelvet，theirspearsflourishingabovetheirheads。Gordonmetthematthetopofthestaircase。Foramoment，therewasadeathlypause，whilehestoodinsilence，surveyinghisantagonists。ThenitissaidthatTahaShahin，theDongolawi，criedinaloudvoice，’Mala’ounelyomyomek！’Ocursedone，yourtimeiscome，andplungedhisspearintotheEnglishman’sbody。Hisonlyreplywasagestureofcontempt。Anotherspeartransfixedhim；hefell，andtheswordsofthethreeotherDervishesinstantlyhackedhimtodeath。Thus，ifwearetobelievetheofficialchroniclers，inthedignityofunresistingdisdain，GeneralGordonmethisend。Butitisonlyfittingthatthelastmomentsofonewhosewholelifewaspassedincontradictionshouldbeinvolvedinmysteryanddoubt。Otherwitnessestoldaverydifferentstory。Themanwhomtheysawdiewasnotasaintbutawarrior。Withintrepidity，withskill，withdesperation，heflewathisenemies。Whenhispistolwasexhausted，hefoughtonwithhissword；heforcedhiswayalmosttothebottomofthestaircase；and，among，aheapofcorpses，onlysuccumbedatlengthtothesheerweightofthemultitudesagainsthim。
　　Thatmorning，whileSlatinPashawassittinginhischainsinthecampatOmdurman，hesawagroupofArabsapproaching，oneofwhomwascarryingsomethingwrappedupinacloth。Asthegrouppassedhim，theystoppedforamoment，andrailedathiminsavagemockery。Thentheclothwaslifted，andhesawbeforehimGordon’shead。ThetrophywastakentotheMahdi：atlastthetwofanaticshadindeedmetfacetoface。TheMahdiorderedtheheadtobefixedbetweenthebranchesofatreeinthepublichighway，andallwhopassedthrewstonesatit。Thehawksofthedesertsweptandcircledaboutit——thoseveryhawkswhichtheblueeyeshadsooftenwatched。
　　ThenewsofthecatastrophereachedEngland，andagreatoutcryarose。Thepublicgriefviedwiththepublicindignation。TheQueen，inalettertoMissGordon，immediatelygaveventbothtoherownsentimentsandthoseofthenation。’HOWshallIwritetoyou，’sheexclaimed，’orhowshallIattempttoexpressWHATI
　　FEEL！ToTHINKofyourdear，noble，heroicBrother，whoservedhisCountryandhisQueensotruly，soheroically，withaself-
　　sacrificesoedifyingtotheWorld，nothavingbeenrescued。Thatthepromisesofsupportwerenotfulfilled——whichIsofrequentlyandconstantlypressedonthosewhoaskedhimtogo——
　　istomeGRIEFINEXPRESSIBLE！Indeed，ithasmademeill……WouldyouexpresstoyourothersistersandyourelderBrothermytruesympathy，andwhatIdosokeenlyfeel，theSTAINleftuponEngland，foryourdearBrother’scruel，thoughheroic，fate！’
　　Inreply，MissGordonpresentedtheQueenwithherbrother’sBible，whichwasplacedinoneofthecorridorsatWindsor，open，onawhitesatincushion，andenclosedinacrystalcase。Inthemeanwhile，Gordonwasacclaimedineverynewspaperasanationalmartyr；StateserviceswereheldinhishonouratWestminsterandStPaul’s；￡20，000wasvotedtohisfamily；andagreatsumofmoneywasraisedbysubscriptiontoendowacharityinhismemory。Wrathandexecrationfell，inparticular，upontheheadofMr。Gladstone。Hewaslittlebetterthanamurderer；hewasatraitor；hewasaheartlessvillain，whohadbeenseenattheplayontheverynightwhenGordon’sdeathwasannounced。Thestormpassed；butMr。Gladstonehadsoontocopewithastillmoreseriousagitation。ThecrywasraisedoneverysidethatthenationalhonourwouldbeirreparablytarnishediftheMahdiwereleftinthepeacefulpossessionofKhartoum，andthattheExpeditionaryForceshouldbeatonceemployedtochastisethefalseprophetandtoconquertheSudan。Butitwasinvainthattheimperialistsclamoured；invainthatLordWolseleywroteseveraldispatches，provingoverandoveragainthattoleavetheMahdiunconqueredmustinvolvetheruinofEgypt；invainthatLordHartingtonatlastdiscoveredthathehadcometothesameconclusion。Theoldmanstoodfirm。Justthen，acrisiswithRussiaontheAfghanfrontiersupervened；andMr。Gladstone，pointingoutthateveryavailablesoldiermightbewantedatanymomentforaEuropeanwar，withdrewLordWolseleyandhisarmyfromEgypt。TheRussiancrisisdisappeared。TheMahdiremainedsupremelordoftheSudan。
　　AndyetitwasnotwiththeMahdithatthefuturelay。Beforesixmonthswereout，intheplenitudeofhispower，hedied，andtheKhalifaAbdullahireignedinhisstead。ThefuturelaywithMajorKitchenerandhisMaxim-Nordenfeldtguns。ThirteenyearslatertheMahdi’sempirewasabolishedforeverinthegigantichecatombofOmdurman；afterwhichitwasthoughtproperthatareligiousceremonyinhonourofGeneralGordonshouldbeheldatthepalaceatKhartoum。Theservicewasconductedbyfourchaplains——oftheCatholic，Anglican，Presbyterian，andMethodistpersuasions——andconcludedwithaperformanceof’AbidewithMe’——theGeneral’sfavouritehymn——byaselectcompanyofSudanesebuglers。EveryoneagreedthatGeneralGordonhadbeenavengedatlast。Whocoulddoubtit？GeneralGordonhimself，possibly，fluttering，insomeremoteNirvana，thepagesofaphantasmalBible，mighthaveventuredonasatiricalremark。ButGeneralGordonhadalwaysbeenacontradictiousperson——evenalittleoffhishead，perhaps，thoughahero；andbesides，hewasnolongertheretocontradict……Atanyrate，ithadallendedveryhappily——inagloriousslaughterof20，000Arabs，avastadditiontotheBritishEmpire，andastepinthePeerageforSirEvelynBaring。
　　BIBLIOGRAPHY
　　GeneralGordon。ReflectionsinPalestine。Letters。KhartoumJournals。
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　　H。W。Gordon。EventsintheLifeofC。G。Gordon。
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　　SirW。Butler。GeneralGordon。
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　　Sketch。
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　　ColonelChaille-Long。MyLifeinFourContinents。
　　LordCromer。ModernEgypt。
　　SirR。Wingate。MahdiismandtheSudan。
　　SirR。Slatin。FireandSwordintheSudan。
　　J。Ohrwalder。TenYearsofCaptivityintheMahdi’sCamp。
　　C。Neufeld。APrisoneroftheKhaleefa。
　　WilfridBlunt。ASecretHistoryoftheEnglishOccupationofEgypt。
　　GordonatKhartoum。
　　WinstonChurchill。TheRiverWar。
　　F。Power。LettersfromKhartoum。
　　LordMorley。LifeofGladstone。
　　GeorgeW。Smalley。MrGladstone。Harper’sMagazine，1898。
　　B。Holland。LifeoftheEighthDukeofDevonshire。
　　LordFitzmaurice。LifeoftheSecondEarlGranville。
　　S。GwynnandGertrudeTuckwell。LifeofSirCharlesDilke。
　　ArthurRimbaud。Lettres。
　　G。F。Steevens。WithKitchenertoKhartoum。
　　*TheauthenticityoftheDiarycontainedinthisbookhasbeendisputed，notablybyMr。J。0。P。BlandinhisLiHungChang。
　　Constable，1917
　　End

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