would not risk the heavy loss they
would suffer before they got in, especially as the place would be of no
use to them when they took it, and must fall as a matter of course when
the rest of the force arrives."

Such being his opinion, he was but little disappointed when the firing
ceased, and he knew by the triumphant yells of the Arabs that the
British force were retiring. In a short time he heard a clamour of
voices in the court-yard, and he was presently unbound and released.

"The Kaffirs did not dare to attack the place," the Arab said
exultantly. "They have gone back to their camp. In a day or two there
will be forces here from Khartoum and Berber, and then we will destroy
or make slaves of them all."

Four days later there was a great firing of muskets and triumphant
yelling in the streets. Edgar felt very anxious, fearing that the
expected reinforcements had arrived, and that a tremendous attack was
about to be made upon the camp. He did not believe that it had already
taken place, for he felt confident that every pain had been taken to
strengthen the position, and that in whatever numbers the assault might
be made it would be repulsed. Presently, however, the sheik himself
deigned to tell him the cause of the rejoicing.

"There is news from Khartoum," he said. "The city has been taken, and
the Englishman Gordon and all his followers have been killed. The news
is certain. It has been brought down to us by tribesmen on both sides of
the river. I told you that the Mahdi was irresistible."

The blow was a terrible one to Edgar. In the first place it was grievous
to think that the expedition had been made in vain, and that, owing to
those in authority at home delaying for months before making up their
minds to rescue Gordon, it had failed in its object, and that the
noblest of Englishmen had been left to die, unaided by those who had
sent him out. He thought of the intense disappointment that would be
felt by the troops, of the grief that there would be in England when the
news was known, and then he wondered what would be done next. It was
evident to him at once that his own position was altogether changed. He
had before felt confident that unless his captors moved away from the
town before the arrival of the main body of the expedition he should be
rescued, but now it seemed altogether uncertain whether the expedition
would come at all.

So long as Gordon was alive England was bound to make every effort to