CHAPTER III.

THE MISSIONARIES AND THE MAHDI.

Description of El Obeid--Said Pasha's system of defence-- The Mahdi's followers encircle the town--Townspeople desert to the Mahdi--Unsuccessful attack on Government buildings --Dervishes driven off with loss of 10,000 men--The missionaries brought before the Mahdi--Threatened with death--Preparations for the execution--Reprieved at the last moment--The Mahdi's camp described--Death of some of the missionaries--Illness of remainder 34