had better take your horse,' he said. 'If you were to go on foot,
it would be seen that there was a horse without a rider, and there
would be a search for you; but if you and your horse are missing, it
will be supposed that you have ridden on to Omdurman to give notice of
our coming, and none will think more of the matter.'

"As soon as the camp was asleep, I said goodbye to Abu; and took my
horse by the reins and led him into the desert, half a mile away. Then
I mounted, and rode fast. The stars were guide enough, and in three
hours I reached the Nile. I took off the horse's saddle and bridle, and
left him to himself. Then I crept out and cut a bundle of rushes, and
swam into the stream with them.

"After floating down the river for an hour, I saw the light of a few
fires on the right bank, and guessed that this was a Dervish force,
beleaguering Khartoum from that side. I drifted on for another hour,
drawing closer and closer to the shore, until I could see walls and
forts; then I stripped off my Dervish frock, and swam ashore.

"I had, during the time we had been on the journey, abstained from
staining my skin under my garments, in order that I might be recognized
as a white man, as soon as I bared my arms.

"I lay down till it was broad daylight, and then walked up to the foot
of a redoubt. There were shouts of surprise from the black soldiers
there, as I approached. I shouted to them, in Arabic, that I was an
Englishman; and two or three of them at once ran down the slope, and
aided me to climb it. I was taken, at my request, to General Gordon,
who was surprised, indeed, when I told him that I was a survivor of
Hicks's force, and had been living nine months at El Obeid.

"'You are heartily welcome, sir,' he said; 'but I fear that you have
come into an even greater danger than you have left, for our position
here is well-nigh desperate. For months I have been praying for aid
from England, and my last news was that it was just setting out, so I
fear there is no hope that it will reach me in time. The government of
England will have to answer, before God, for their desertion of me, and
of the poor people here, whom they sent me to protect from the Mahdi.

"'For myself, I am content. I have done my duty as far as lay in my
power, but I had a right to rely upon receiving support from those who
sent me. I am in the hands of God. But for the many thousands who
trusted in me, and remained here, I feel very deeply.

"