CHAPTER II. REVOLT OF THE SOUDAN. The Mahdi, his programme and military successes—Disaster of Hicks Pasha—Osman Digna and engagements near Suakin—English intervention—Gordon at Brussels ; starts for Khartoum—Hesitation of England—Further success of the Mahdi—Capture of Berber— Blockade and siege of Khartoum—Organisation of relief expedition under Lord Wolseley—Engagements at Abu Klea and Metammeh— Fall of Khartoum and death of Gordon. Prompted either by personal ambition or by re ligious hatred, the idea oT playing the part of “ Mahdi ” had been acted upon by many an Arab fanatic. Such an idea, at an early age, had taken possession of a certain Soudanese of low birth, a native of Dongola, by name Mohammed Ahmed. Before openly aspiring to the role of the regene rator of Islam he had filled several subordinate engagements, notably one under Dr. Peney, the French surgeon-general in the Soudan, who died in 1861. Shortly afterwards he received admit tance into the powerful order of the Ghelani dervishes, and then commenced his schemes for