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'You send me no information； though you have lots of money。 C。 G。
G。'
To his sister Augusta he was more explicit。 'I decline to agree；'
he told her； 'that the expedition comes for my relief； it comes
for the relief of the garrisons； which I failed to accomplish。 I
expect Her Majesty's Government are in a precious rage with me
for holding out and forcing their hand。' The admission is
significant。 And then came the final adieux。 'This may be the
last letter you will receive from me； for we are on our last
legs； owing to the delay of the expedition。 However； God rules
all； and； as He will rule to His glory and our welfare； His will
be done。 I fear； owing to circumstances； that my affairs are
pecuniarily not over bright 。。。 your affectionate brother； C。 G。
G0RD0N。
'P。S。 I am quite happy； thank God； and； like Lawrence； I have
TRIED to do my duty。'
The delay of the expedition was even more serious than Gordon had
supposed。 Lord Wolseley had made the most elaborate preparations。
He had collected together a picked army of 10；000 of the finest
British troops； he had arranged a system of river transports with
infinite care。 For it was his intention to take no risks； he
would advance in force up the Nile； he had determined that the
fate of Gordon should not depend upon the dangerous hazards of a
small and hasty exploit。 There is no doubtin view of the
opposition which the relieving force actually met withthat his
decision was a wise one； but unfortunately； he had miscalculated
some of the essential elements in the situation。 When his
preparations were at last complete； it was found that the Nile
had sunk so low that the flotillas； over which so much care had
been lavished； and upon which depended the whole success of the
campaign； would be unable to surmount the cataracts。 At the same
timeit was by then the middle of Novembera message arrived
from Gordon indicating that Khartoum was in serious straits。 It
was clear that an immediate advance was necessary； the river
route was out of the question； a swift dash across the desert was
the only possible expedient after all。 But no preparations for
land transport had been made； weeks elapsed before a sufficient
number of camels could be collected； and more weeks before those
collected were trained for military march。 It was not until
December 30thmore than a fortnight after the last entry in
Gordon's Journalthat Sir Herbert Stewart； at the head of 1；100
British troops； was able to leave Korti on his march towards
Metemmah； 170 miles across the desert。 His advance was slow； and
it was tenaciously disputed by； the Mahdi's forces。 There was a
desperate engagement on January 17th at the wells of Abu Klea；
the British square was broken； for a moment victory hung in the
balance； but the Arabs were repulsed。 On the 19th there was
another furiously contested fight； in which Sir Herbert Stewart
was killed。 On the 21st； the force； now diminished by over 250
casualties； reached Metemmah。 Three days elapsed in
reconnoitering the country； and strengthening the position of the
camp。 0n the 24th； Sir Charles Wilson； who had succeeded to the
command； embarked on the Bordeen； and started up the river for
Khartoum。 On the following evening； the vessel struck on a rock；
causing a further delay of twenty…four hours。 It was not until
January 28th that Sir Charles Wilson； arriving under a heavy fire
within sight of Khartoum； saw that the Egyptian flag was not
flying from the roof of the palace。 The signs of ruin and
destruction on every hand showed clearly enough that the town had
fallen。 The relief expedition was two days late。
The details of what passed within Khartoum during the last weeks
of the siege are unknown to us。 In the diary of Bordeini Bey； a
Levantine merchant； we catch a few glimpses of the final stages
of the catastropheof the starving populace； the exhausted
garrison； the fluctuations of despair and hope； the dauntless
energy of the Governor…General。 Still he worked on；
indefatigably； apportioning provisions； collecting ammunition；
consulting with the townspeople； encouraging the soldiers。 His
hair had suddenly turned quite white。 Late one evening； Bordeini
Bey went to visit him in the palace； which was being bombarded by
the Mahdi's cannon。 The high building； brilliantly lighted up；
afforded an excellent mark。 As the shot came whistling around the
windows； the merchant suggested that it would be advisable to
stop them up with boxes full of sand。 Upon this； Gordon Pasha
became enraged。 'He called up the guard； and gave them orders to
shoot me if I moved； he then brought a very large lantern which
would hold twenty…four candles。 He and I then put the candles
into the sockets； placed the lantern on the table in front of the
window； lit the candles； and then we sat down at the table。 The
Pasha then said； 〃When God was portioning out fear to all the
people in the world； at last it came to my turn； and there was no
fear left to give me。 Go； tell all the people in Khartoum that
Gordon fears nothing； for God has created him without fear。〃 '
On January 5th； Omdurman； a village on the opposite bank of the
Nile； which had hitherto been occupied by the besieged； was taken
by the Arabs。 The town was now closely surrounded； and every
chance of obtaining fresh supplies was cut off。 The famine became
terrible； dogs； donkeys； skins； gum； palm fibre； were devoured by
the desperate inhabitants。 The soldiers stood on the
fortifications like pieces of wood。 Hundreds died of hunger
daily： their corpses filled the streets； and the survivors had
not the strength to bury the dead。 On the 20th； the news of the
battle of Abu Klea reached Khartoum。 The English were coming at
last。 Hope rose； every morning the Governor…General assured the
townspeople that one day more would see the end of their
sufferings； and night after night his words were proved untrue。
On the 23rd； a rumour spread that a spy had arrived with letters；
and that the English army was at hand。 A merchant found a piece
of newspaper lying in the road； in which it was stated that the
strength of the relieving forces was 15；000 men。 For a moment；
hope flickered up again； only to relapse once more。 The rumour；
the letters； the printed paper； all had been contrivances of
Gordon to inspire the garrison with the courage to hold out。 On
the 25th； it was obvious that the Arabs were preparing an attack；
and a deputation of the principal inhabitants waited upon the
Governor…General。 But he refused to see them； Bordeini Bey was
alone admitted to his presence。 He was sitting on a divan； and；
as Bordeini Bey came into the room； he snatched the fez from his
head and flung it from him。 'What more can I say？' he exclaimed；
in a voice such as the merchant had never heard before。 'The
people will no longer believe me。 I have told them over and over
again that help would be here； but it has never come； and now
they must see I tell them lies。 I can do nothing more。 Go； and
collect all the people you can on the lines； and make a good
stand。 Now leave me to smoke these cigarettes。' Bordeini Bey knew
then； he tells us； that Gordon Pasha was in despair。 He left the
room； having looked upon the Governor…General for the last time。
When the English force reached Metemmah； the Mahdi； who had
originally intended to reduce Khartoum to surrender through
starvation； decided to attempt its capture by assault。 The
receding Nile had left one portion of the town's circumference
undefended； as the river withdrew； the rampart had crumbled； a
broad expanse of mud was left between the wall and the water； and
the soldiers； overcome by hunger and the lassitude of
hopelessness； had trusted to the morass to protect them； and
neglected to repair the breach。 Early on the morning of the 26th；
the Arabs crossed the river at this point。 The mud； partially
dried up； presented no obstacle； nor did the ruined
fortification； feebly manned by some half…dying troops。
Resistance was futile； and it was scarcely offered： the Mahdi's
army swarmed into Khartoum。 Gordon had long debated with himself
what his action should be at the supreme moment。 'I shall never
（D。V。）；' he had told Sir Evelyn Baring； 'be taken alive。' He had
had gunpowder put into the cellars of the palace； so that the
whole building might； at a moment's notice； be blown into the
air。 But then misgivings had come upon him； was it not his duty
'to maintain the faith； and； if necessary； to suffer for it'？to
remain a tortured and humiliated witness of his Lord in the
Mahdi's chains？ The blowing up of the palace would have； he
thought； 'more or less the taint of suicide'； would be； in a way；
taking things out of God's hands'。 He remained undecided； and
meanwhile； to be ready for every contingency； he kept one of his
little armoured vessels close at hand on the river； with steam
up； day and night； to transport him；