"This is in truth our Deliverer, sent from Heaven," said the wild people of the Soudan, and they flocked in tribes to join the Mahdi. It was not long before he owned a great army, and there have never been any soldiers who fought more fiercely and with more magnificent courage, and who feared death less, than those followers of a savage dervish. The Mahdi laid siege to one of the chief cities of the Soudan. It fell before him, and sack and massacre followed. An army of 11,000, under the command of a brave English officer, was then sent to attack the Mahdi. Like all the troops that had gone before them, they were led into a trap, and, out of 11,000 men, only eleven returned to Egypt. From one victory to another went the Mahdi. His troops, armed with weapons taken from those they had slain, were rich with plunder. Only two Englishmen were now left in the Soudan. At Khartoum were Colonel Coetlogan and Mr. Frank Power, correspondent of the _Times_. Colonel Coetlogan telegraphed that it was hopeless for the Egyptian troops in the Soudan to hold out against the Mahdi. Soldiers were deserting daily, and people on every hand were joining the victorious army of the ruffian who claimed to have been sent from Heaven. Colonel Coetlogan begged for orders for the loyal troops to leave the Soudan and seek safety in Egypt. Gordon believed that if the Soudan were given up to the Mahdi, there would presently be no limit to the tyrant's power. All the slavery and misery from which Gordon had tried to free the land would be worse than ever before. Egypt and Arabia might also, before long, take as their king the Mahdi who ruled the Soudan. He held that at all costs Khartoum must be defended, and not handed over to the Mahdi, as Colonel Coetlogan and many others advised. In England this belief of General Gordon, who knew more about the Soudan than any other living man, soon became known. All his plans for going to the Congo were made, and he had gone to Brussels to take leave of the King of the Belgians when a telegram came to him from the English Government. "Come back to London by evening train," it said. And, leaving all his luggage behind him, Gordon went. Next morning he interviewed Lord Wolseley and some members of the Cabinet. He was asked if he would undertake a mission to the Soudan, to try to resettle affairs there, to bring away the Egyptian garrisons, and to divide, if possible, the country amongst the petty sultans whom he thought strong and wise enough to keep order. Gordon was ready to go, and, to go at once. "I would give my life for these poor people of the Soudan," he said. Late that afternoon he started. Lord Wolseley has told the story of his going:-- "There he stood, in a tall silk hat and frock coat. I offered to send him anything he wanted. "'Don't want anything,' he said. "'But you've got no clothes.' "'I'll go as I am!' he said, and he meant it.