CHAPTER III 



Capture and execution of the Mahdi — We set out to capture the Sheikh 

 Sebeik — And return successful — "A man whose name ma^hi Ibrahim " 

 — Birka — A false trail — Back through the night — Another Mahdi — 

 The pet Kudu makes a night attack on El Obeid — Captain Carter 

 "knocks" the Mahdi— We return to El Obeid— The perils of mis- 

 pronunciation — Slatin Pasha — El Eddaiya — We march to Carter's 

 help — Flowers and big game — Lions. 



Mahon's plans proved admirable. Hearing of the 

 preparations at El Obeid, the Mahdi retired towards 

 the Selim Baggara country near the Nile. His spies 

 told him to a yard the position of the infantry column, 

 but the arrival of the cavalry at dawn was all un- 

 expected, and surrender the only course. He was 

 handed over to the former, and escorted to El Obeid. 

 En route he told the native officer and men of his 

 escort that, unless they took off his handcuffs and con- 

 nived at his escape, he would be obliged to turn the 

 iron into water, with the result that they would become 

 toads. " Our fate is written," was the reply. Regular 

 pay and conditions of service are of more account 

 nowadays than the promises of a captive prophet. 

 The Mahdi then said that he would bide his time, 

 as, if executed, he could in three days rise again. 

 On arrival at El Obeid the evidence was considered 

 sufficiently strong and the situation sufficiently critical 

 to justify his immediate execution. 



