His own soldiers were under the spell they were to try to destroy.  To them their commander was accursed.  Every influence was hostile, and in particular hostile to his person.  The combined forces of race, class, and religion were against him.  He bowed before their irresistible strength.  On the very day of his arrival at Khartoum, while the townsfolk were cheering his name in the streets and the batteries were firing joyful salutes, while the people of England thought his mission already accomplished and the Government congratulated themselves on the wisdom of their action, General Gordon sat himself down and telegraphed a formal request to Cairo for Zubehr Pasha.

The whole story of his relations with Zubehr is extremely characteristic.  Zubehr’s son, Suliman, had been executed, if not by Gordon’s orders, at least during his administration of the Soudan and with his complete approval.  ‘Thus,’ he had said, ’does God make gaps in the ranks of His enemies.’  He had hardly started from London on his new mission, when he telegraphed to Sir Evelyn Baring, telling him that Zubehr was a most dangerous man and requesting that he might be at once deported to Cyprus.  This was, of course, quite beyond the powers or intention of the British Agent.  The General arrived in Cairo like a whirlwind close behind his telegram, and was very angry to hear that Zubehr was still in Egypt.  Before starting up the river he went to see Sherif Pasha.  In the ex-Minister’s ante-room he met the very man he had determined to avoid —­Zubehr.  He greeted him with effusion.  They had a long talk about the Soudan, after which Gordon hurried to the Agency and informed Sir Evelyn Baring that Zubehr must accompany him to Khartoum at once.  Baring was amazed.  He did not himself disapprove of the plan.  He had, in fact, already recommended it.  But he thought the change in Gordon’s attitude too sudden to be relied on.  To-morrow he might change again.  He begged the General to think more seriously of the matter.  Gordon with his usual frankness admitted that his change of mind had been very sudden.  He had been conscious, he said, of a ‘mystic feeling’ that Zubehr was necessary to save the situation in the Soudan.

Gordon left Cairo still considering the matter.  So soon as he made his formal demand from Khartoum for the assistance of Zubehr it was evident that his belief in the old slave dealer’s usefulness was a sound conviction and not a mere passing caprice.  Besides, he had now become ‘the man on the spot,’ and as such his words carried double force.  Sir Evelyn Baring determined to support the recommendation with his whole influence.  Never was so good a case made out for the appointment of so bad a man.  The Envoy Extraordinary asked for him; Colonel Stewart, his colleague, concurred; the British Agent strongly urged the request; the Egyptian Government were unanimous; and behind all these were ranged every single person who had the slightest acquaintance with the Soudan.