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countenance of his old enemy； an extraordinary shock of
inspiration ran through Gordon's brain。 He was seized； as he
explained in a State paper； which he drew up immediately after
the meeting； with a 'mystic feeling' that he could trust Zobeir。
It was true that Zobeir was 'the greatest slave…hunter who ever
existed'； it was true that he had a personal hatred of Gordon；
owing to the execution of Suleiman'and one cannot wonder at it；
if one is a father'； it was true that； only a few days
previously； on his way to Egypt； Gordon himself had been so
convinced of the dangerous character of Zobeir that he had
recommended by telegram his removal to Cyprus。 But such
considerations were utterly obliterated by that one moment of
electric impact of personal vision； henceforward ；there was a
rooted conviction in Gordon's mind that Zobeir was to be trusted；
that Zobeir must join him at Khartoum； that Zobeir's presence
would paralyse the Mahdi； that Zobeir must succeed him in the
government of the country after the evacuation。 Did not Sir
Evelyn Baring； too； have the mystic feeling？ Sir Evelyn Baring
confessed that he had not。 He distrusted mystic feelings。 Zobeir；
no doubt； might possibly be useful； but； before deciding upon so
important a matter； it was necessary to reflect and to consult。
In the meantime； failing Zobeir； something might perhaps be done
with the Emir Abdul Shakur； the heir of the Darfur Sultans。 The
Emir； who had been living in domestic retirement in Cairo； was
with some difficulty discovered； given ￡2；000； an embroidered
uniform； together with the largest decoration that could be
found； and informed that he was to start at once with General
Gordon for the Sudan； where it would be his duty to occupy the
province of Darfur； after driving out the forces of the Mahdi。
The poor man begged for a little delay； but no delay could be
granted。 He hurried to the railway station in his frockcoat and
fez； and rather the worse for liquor。 Several extra carriages for
his twenty…three wives and a large quantity of luggage had then
to be hitched on to the Governor…General's train； and at the last
moment some commotion was caused by the unaccountable
disappearance
of his embroidered uniform。 It was found； but his troubles were
not
over。 On the steamer； General Gordon was very rude to him； and he
drowned his chagrin in hot rum and water。 At Assuan he
disembarked；
declaring that he would go no farther。 Eventually； however； he
got
as far as Dongola； whence； after a stay of a few months； he
returned
with his family to Cairo。
In spite of this little contretemps； Gordon was in the highest
spirits。 At last his capacities had been recognised by his
countrymen； at last he had been entrusted with a task great
enough to satisfy even his desires。 He was already famous； he
would soon be glorious。 Looking out once more over the familiar
desert； he felt the searchings of his conscience stilled by the
manifest certainty that it was for this that Providence had been
reserving him through all these years of labour and of sorrow for
this！ What was the Mahdi to stand up against him！ A thousand
schemes； a thousand possibilities sprang to life in his
pullulating brain。 A new intoxication carried him away。 'Il faut
etre toujours ivre。 Tout est la： c'est l'unique question。' Little
though he knew it； Gordon was a disciple of Baudelaire。 'Pour ne
pas sentir l'horrible fardeau du Temps qui brise vos epaules et
vous penche vers la terre； il faut vous enivrer sans treve。' Yes…
… but how feeble were those gross resources of the miserable
Abdul…Shakur！ Rum？ Brandy？ Oh； he knew all about them； they were
nothing。 He tossed off a glass。 They were nothing at all。 The
true drunkenness lay elsewhere。 He seized a paper and pencil； and
dashed down a telegram to Sir Evelyn Baring。 Another thought
struck him； and another telegram followed。 And another； and yet
another。 He had made up his mind； he would visit the Mahdi in
person； and alone。 He might do that； or he might retire to the
Equator。 He would decidedly retire to the Equator； and hand over
the Bahr…el…Ghazal province to the King of the Belgians。 A whole
flock of telegrams flew to Cairo from every stopping…place。 Sir
Evelyn Baring was patient and discrete； he could be trusted with
such confidences； but unfortunately Gordon's strange exhilaration
found other outlets。 At Berber； in the course of a speech to the
assembled chiefs； he revealed the intention of the Egyptian
Government to withdraw from the Sudan。 The news was everywhere in
a moment； and the results were disastrous。 The tribesmen； whom
fear and interest had still kept loyal； perceived that they need
look no more for help or punishment from Egypt； and began to turn
their eyes towards the rising sun。
Nevertheless； for the moment； the prospect wore a favourable
appearance。 The Governor…General was welcomed at every stage of
his journey； and on February 18th he made a triumphal entry into
Khartoum。 The feeble garrison； the panic…stricken inhabitants；
hailed him as a deliverer。 Surely they need fear no more； now
that the great English Pasha had come among them。 His first acts
seemed to show that a new and happy era had begun。 Taxes were
remitted； the bonds of the usurers were destroyed； the victims of
Egyptian injustice were set free from the prisons； the immemorial
instruments of torture the stocks and the whips and the branding…
irons were broken to pieces in the public square。 A bolder
measure had been already taken。 A proclamation had been issued
sanctioning slavery in the Sudan。 Gordon； arguing that he was
powerless to do away with the odious institution； which； as soon
as the withdrawal was carried out； would inevitably become
universal； had decided to reap what benefit he could from the
public abandonment of an unpopular policy。 At Khartoum the
announcement was received with enthusiasm； but it caused
considerable perturbation in England。 The Christian hero； who had
spent so many years of his life in suppressing slavery； was now
suddenly found to be using his high powers to set it up again。
The Anti…Slavery Society made a menacing movement； but the
Government showed a bold front； and the popular belief in
Gordon's infallibility carried the day。
He himself was still radiant。 Nor； amid the jubilation and the
devotion which surrounded him； did he forget higher things。 In
all this turmoil； he told his sister； he was 'supported'。 He gave
injunctions that his Egyptian troops should have regular morning
and evening prayers； 'they worship one God；' he said； 'Jehovah。'
And he ordered an Arabic text； 'God rules the hearts of all men'；
to be put up over the chair of state in his audience chamber。 As
the days went by； he began to feel at home again in the huge
palace which he knew so well。 The glare and the heat of that
southern atmosphere； the movement of the crowded city； the dark…
faced populace； the soldiers and the suppliants； the reawakened
consciousness of power； the glamour and the mystery of the whole
strange scenethese things seized upon him； engulfed him； and
worked a new transformation on his intoxicated heart。 England；
with its complications and its policies； became an empty vision
to him； Sir Evelyn Baring； with his cautions and sagacities；
hardly more than a tiresome name。 He was Gordon Pasha； he was the
Governor…General； he was the ruler of the Sudan。 He was among his
peoplehis own people； and it was to them only that he was
responsibleto them； and to God。 Was he to let them fall without
a blow into the clutches of a sanguinary impostor？ Never！ He was
there to prevent that。 The distant governments might mutter
something about 'evacuation'； his thoughts were elsewhere。 He
poured them into his telegrams； and Sir Evelyn Baring sat aghast。
The man who had left London a month before； with instructions to
'report upon the best means of effecting the evacuation of the
Sudan'； was now openly talking of 'smashing up the Mahdi' with
the aid of British and Indian troops。 Sir Evelyn Baring counted
upon his fingers the various stages of this extraordinary
development in General Gordon's opinions。 But he might have saved
himself the trouble； for； in fact； it was less a development than
a reversion。 Under the stress of the excitements and the
realities of his situation at Khartoum； the policy which Gordon
was now proposing to carry out had come to tally； in every
particular； with the policy which he had originally advocated
with such vigorous conviction in the pages of the Pall Mall
Gazette。
Nor was the adoption of that policy by the English Government by
any means out of the question。 For； in the meantime； events had
been taking place in the Eastern Sudan； in the neighbourhood of
the Red Sea port of Suakin； which were to have a decisive effect
upon the prospects of Khartoum。 Ge