He is anxious that there should be no further loss of blood."

"We can die, sir, as the others have done," the elder emir, a man of
some sixty years old, said sternly.

"But that would not avail your cause, sir. I solicited this mission, as
I owe much to you."

"How can that be?" the chief asked.

"I am the son of that white man whom you so kindly treated, at El
Obeid, where he saved the life of your son Abu;" and he bowed to the
younger emir.

"Then he escaped?" the latter exclaimed.

"No, sir. He was killed at Hebbeh, when the steamer in which he was
going down from Khartoum was wrecked there; but I found his journal, in
which he told the story of your kindness to him. I can assure you that
you shall be well treated, if you surrender; and those of your men who
wish to do so will be allowed to return to El Obeid. I feel sure that
when I tell our General how kindly you acted, to the sole white officer
who escaped from the battle, you and your son will be treated with the
greatest consideration."

"I owe more to your father than he did to me," Abu exclaimed. "He saved
my life, and did many great services to us.

"What say you, Father? I am ready to die if you will it; but as the
Khalifa is dead, and the cause of Mahdism lost, I see no reason, and
assuredly no disgrace, in submitting to the will of Allah."

"So be it," Khatim said. "I have never thought of surrendering to the
Turks, but as it is the will of Allah, I will do so."

He turned to his men.

"It is useless to fight further," he said. "The Khalifa is dead. It
were better to return to your wives and families than to throw away
your lives. Lay down your arms. None will be injured."

It was with evident satisfaction that the Arabs laid musket and spear
on the ground. They would have fought to the death, had he ordered
them, for they greatly loved their old chief; but as it was his order,
they gladly complied with it, as they saw that they had no chance of
resisting the array of cavalry and camel corps, gathered less than half
a mile away.

"If you will ride back with me," Gregory said to the emir, "I will
present you to the General. The men had better follow. I will ride
forward, and tell the officer commanding the cavalry that you have
surrendered, and that the men approaching are unarmed."

He cantered back to the cavalry.

"They have all surrendered, sir," he said. "They have laid down their
arms at the place where they stood, and are going ba