_Chapter_ IX.--Gordon's Boats, manned by Sir Charles Wilson, fighting up to Khartoum--Khartoum fallen--Gordon a martyr--Mourning in all lands--Our Queen's letter of complaint to Gladstone--Gladstone's reply and vindication--Queen's letters to Gordon's sister--Account of the fall of Khartoum--Acceptance by the Queen of Gordon's Bible. CHAPTER I. "There is nothing purer than honesty; nothing sweeter than charity; nothing warmer than love; nothing richer than wisdom; nothing brighter than virtue; nothing more steadfast than faith."--_Bacon_. It has been said that the most interesting study for mankind is man; and surely one of the grandest objects for human contemplation, is a noble character; a lofty type of a truly great and good man is humanity's richest heritage. The following lines by one of our greatest poets are true-- "Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime, And departing leave behind us, Footprints on the sands of time." While places and things may have a special or peculiar charm, and indeed may become very interesting, nothing stirs our hearts, or rouses our enthusiasm so much as the study of a noble heroic life, such as that of the uncrowned king, who is the subject of our story, and whose career of unsullied splendour closed in the year 1885 in the beleaguered capital of that dark sad land, where the White and Blue Nile blend their waters. "Noble he was contemning all things mean, His truth unquestioned and his soul severe, At no man's question was he e'er dismayed, Of no man's presence was he e'er afraid." General Gordon was the son of a soldier who proved his gallantry on many occasions, and who took a pride in his profession. It was said of him that he was greatly beloved by all who served under him. He was generous, genial and kind hearted, and strictly just in all his practices and aims. He gave to his Queen and country a long life of devoted service. His wife, we are told, was a woman of marked liberality; cheerful and loving, always thoughtful of the wants of others; completely devoid of selfishness.