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situation。 It was some time before the details of the Hicks
expedition were fully known； but when they were； andwhen the
appalling
character of the disaster was understood； a thrill of horror ran
through
the country。 The newspapers became full of articles on the Sudan；
of
personal descriptions of the Mahdi； of agitated letters from
colonels
and clergymen demanding vengeance； and of serious discussions of
future
policy in Egypt。 Then； at the beginning of the new year； alarming
messages
began to arrive from Khartoum。 Colonel Coetlogon； who was in
command of
the Egyptian troops； reported a menacing concentration of the
enemy。 Day by day；
hour by hour； affairs grew worse。 The Egyptians were obviously
outnumbered：
they could not maintain themselves in the field； Khartoum was in
danger； at
any moment； its investment might be complete。 And； with Khartoum
once cut off
from communication with Egypt； what might not happen？
Colonel Coetlogon began to calculate how long the city would hold
out。 Perhaps it could not resist the Mahdi for a month； perhaps
for more than a month； but he began to talk of the necessity of a
speedy retreat。 It was clear that a climax was approaching； and
that measures must be taken to forestall it at once。 Accordingly；
Sir Evelyn Baring； on receipt of final orders from England；
presented an ultimatum to the Egyptian Government： the Ministry
must either sanction the evacuation of the Sudan； or it must
resign。 The Ministry was obstinate； and； on January 7th； 1884；
it resigned； to be replaced by a more pliable body of Pashas。 On
the same day； General Gordon arrived at Southampton。 He was over
fifty； and he was still； by the world's measurements； an
unimportant man。 In spite of his achievements； in spite of a
certain celebrity for 'Chinese Gordon' was still occasionally
spoken of he was unrecognised and almost unemployed。
He had spent a lifetime in the dubious services of foreign
governments；
punctuated by futile drudgeries at home； and now； after a long
idleness；
he had been sent forto do what？to look after the Congo for
the King
of the Belgians。 At his age； even if he survived the work and the
climate；
he could hardly look forward to any subsequent appointment； he
would
return from the Congo； old and worn out； to a red…brick villa and
extinction。 Such were General Gordon's prospects on January 7th；
1884。 By January 18th； his name was on every tongue； he was the
favourite of the nation； he had been declared to be the one
living man
capable of coping with the perils of the hour； he had been
chosen； with unanimous approval； to perform a great task； and he
had left England on a mission which was to bring him not only a
boundless popularity； but an immortal fame。 The circumstances
which led to a change so sudden and so remarkable are less easily
explained than might have been wished。 An ambiguity hangs over
them an ambiguity which the discretion of eminent persons has
certainly not diminished。 But some of the facts are clear enough。
The decision to withdraw from the Sudan had no sooner been taken
than it had become evident that the operation would be a
difficult and hazardous one； and that it would be necessary to
send to Khartoum an emissary armed with special powers and
possessed of special ability； to carry it out。 Towards the end of
November； somebody at the War Officeit is not clear whohad
suggested that this emissary should be General Gordon。 Lord
Granville； the Foreign Secretary； had thereupon telegraphed to
Sir Evelyn Baring asking whether； in his opinion； the presence of
General Gordon would be useful in Egypt； Sir Evelyn Baring had
replied that the Egyptian Government was averse to this
proposal； and the matter had dropped。
There was no further reference to Gordon in the official
dispatches
until after his return to England。 Nor； before that date； was any
allusion made to him as a possible unraveller of the Sudan
difficulty；
in the Press。 In all the discussions which followed the news of
the
Hicks disaster； his name is only to be found in occasional and
incidental references to his work 〃In the Sudan〃。 The 〃Pall Mall
Gazette〃； which； more than any other newspaper； interested itself
in Egyptian affairs； alluded to Gordon once or twice as a
geographical expert； but； in an enumeration of the leading
authorities on the Sudan； left him out of account altogether。 Yet
it was from the 〃Pall Mall Gazette〃 that the impulsion which
projected him into a blaze of publicity finally came。 Mr。 Stead；
its enterprising editor； went down to Southampton the day after
Gordon's arrival there； and obtained an interview。 Now when he
was in the mood after a little b。 and s。； especially no one
was
more capable than Gordon； with his facile speech and his free…
and…easy manners； of furnishing good copy for a journalist； and
Mr。 Stead made the most of his opportunity。 The interview；
copious
and pointed； was published next day in the most prominent part of
the paper； together with a leading article； demanding that the
General should be immediately dispatched to Khartoum with the
widest powers。 The rest of the Press； both in London and in the
provinces； at once took up the cry： General Gordon was a capable
and energetic officer； he was a noble and God…fearing man； he was
a national asset； he was a statesman in the highest sense of the
word； the occasion was pressing and perilous； General Gordon had
been for years Governor…General of the Sudan； General Gordon
alone had the knowledge； the courage； the virtue； which would
save the situation； General Gordon must go to Khartoum。 So； for a
week； the papers sang in chorus。 But already those in high places
had taken a step。 Mr。 Stead's interview appeared on the afternoon
of January 9th； and on the morning of January 10th Lord Granville
telegraphed to Sir Evelyn Baring； proposing； for a second time；
that Gordon's services should be utilised in Egypt。 But Sir
Evelyn Baring； for the second time； rejected the proposal。
While these messages were flashing to and fro； Gordon himself was
paying a visit to the Rev。 Mr。 Barnes at the Vicarage of
Heavitree； near Exeter。 The conversation ran chiefly on Biblical
and spiritual matters on the light thrown by the Old Testament
upon the geography of Palestine； and on the relations between man
and his Maker； but； there were moments when topics of a more
worldly interest arose。 It happened that Sir Samuel Baker；
Gordon's predecessor in Equatoria； lived in the neighbourhood。 A
meeting was arranged； and the two ex…Governors； with Mr。 Barnes
in
attendance； went for a drive together。 In the carriage； Sir
Samuel Baker； taking up the tale of the 〃Pall Mall Gazette〃；
dilated upon the necessity of his friend's returning to the Sudan
as Governor…General。 Gordon was silent； but Mr。 Barnes noticed
that his blue eyes flashed； while an eager expression passed over
his face。 Late that night； after the Vicar had retired to bed； he
was surprised by the door suddenly opening； and by the appearance
of his guest swiftly tripping into the room。 'You saw me today？'
the low voice abruptly questioned。 'You mean in the carriage？'
replied the startled Mr。 Barnes。 'Yes；' came the reply； 'you saw
MEthat was MYSELFthe self I want to get rid of。' There was a
sliding movement； the door swung to； and the Vicar found himself
alone again。
It was clear that a disturbing influence had found its way into
Gordon's mind。 His thoughts； wandering through Africa； flitted to
the Sudan； they did not linger at the Congo。 During the same
visit； he took the opportunity of calling upon Dr。 Temple； the
Bishop of Exeter； and asking him； merely as a hypothetical
question； whether； in his opinion； Sudanese converts to
Christianity might be permitted to keep three wives。 His Lordship
answered that this would be uncanonical。
A few days later； it appeared that the conversation in the
carriage at Heavitree had borne fruit。 Gordon wrote a letter to
Sir Samuel Baker； further elaborating the opinions on the Sudan
which he had already expressed in his interview with Mr。 Stead；
the letter was clearly intended for publication； and published it
was in 〃The Times〃 of January 14th。 On the same day； Gordon's
name
began once more to buzz along the wires in secret questions and
answers to and from the highest quarters。
'Might it not be advisable；' telegraphed Lord Granville to Mr。
Gladstone； to put a little pressure on Baring； to induce him to
accept the assistance of General Gordon？' Mr。 Gladstone replied；
also by a telegram； in the affirmative； and on the 15th； Lord
Wolseley telegraphed to Gordon begging him to come to London
immediately。 Lor