His chief-of-the-staff, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, was in his fiftieth year, but already, as the reconqueror of the Sudan, was by far the most famous and trusted of the younger British generals. His earlier years had passed uneventfully, but with that energy and intense earnestness of purpose which distinguishes the genius from the common-place man, he studied and learnt Arabic, while most of his fellow-officers were amusing themselves. Present at the bombardment of Alexandria, in spite of and not because of orders received, he was employed by Lord Wolseley when that General came to Egypt for the Tel-el-Kebir campaign. Thenceforward, Kitchener belonged to Egypt, and his career is inseparably entwined with Egyptian history. He saw the sad tragedy of the abandonment of the Sudan; he smarted with his countrymen at the bitter shame of the betrayal of Gordon, and took part in the expedition which came too late to save the martyred general. His eyes must have fastened upon that prophetic page in Gordon's journals:--"I like Baker's description of Kitchener. 'The man whom I have always placed my hopes upon, Major Kitchener, R.E., who is one of the few _very superior_ British officers, with a cool and good head, and a hard constitution combined with untiring energy.'" [Illustration: _R. Caton Woodville._] [_By permission of Fishburn & Jenkin, Doré Gallery, New Bond Street, publishers of the large Engraving._ THE GORDON MEMORIAL SERVICE: THE SUPREME MOMENT OF LORD KITCHENER'S CAREER AS SIRDAR, September 4, 1898. The battle of Omdurman and the capture of Khartoum were followed by a ceremony surely as touching as any in history. To the roar of a salute from the gunboat on the Nile, the British and Egyptian flags were run up side by side, and cheers for the Queen were led off by the Sirdar himself. Then, amidst a silence broken only by the guns, "four chaplains," says Mr. G. W. Steevens--"Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, and Methodist--came slowly forward and ranged themselves, with their backs to the palace, just before the Sirdar. The Presbyterian read the Fifteenth Psalm. The Anglican led the rustling whisper of the Lord's Prayer. Snow-haired Father Brindle, best beloved of priests, laid his helmet at his feet, and read a memorial prayer bareheaded in the sun. Then came forward the pipers and wailed a dirge, and the Sudanese played 'Abide with me.' Perhaps lips did twitch just a little to see the ebony heathens fervently blowing out Gordon's favourite hymn; but the most irresistible incongruity would hardly have made us laugh at this moment. And there were those who said the cold Sirdar himself could hardly speak or see, as General Hunter and the rest stepped out according to their rank and shook his hand. What wonder? He has trodden this road to Khartoum for fourteen years, and he stood at the goal at last."] [Sidenote: DEC. 1899.] _Lord Kitchener as a General._]