c did not hear of it for many years after it occurred. When the
Ashantee expedition was contemplated, and speculation was rife as to
whom the command should be offered to, somebody wrote to the _Times_,
signing himself "Mandarin," and, among other things which he mentioned
about Gordon, said that during the month of September, before the
capture of Soo-chow, Gordon had decided to attack certain detached
forts around that place. For some reason his men again mutinied, and
refused to march off the parade-ground.

"At this juncture General Gordon arrived on the spot, with his
interpreter. He was on foot, in undress, apparently unarmed, and,
as usual, exceedingly cool, quiet, and undemonstrative. Directly he
approached the leading company, he ordered his interpreter to
direct every man who refused to embark to step to the front. One
man only advanced. General Gordon drew his revolver from an inside
breast-pocket, presented it at the soldier's head, and desired the
interpreter to direct the man to march straight to the barge and
embark. The order was immediately complied with, and then, General
Gordon giving the necessary word of command, the company followed
without hesitation. It was generally allowed by the officers, when
the event became known, that the success in this instance was
solely due to the awe and respect in which General Gordon was held
by the men; and that such was the spirit of the troops at the time,
that had any other but he attempted what he did, the company would
have broken into open mutiny, shot their officers, and committed
the wildest excesses. In less than a week the spirit of the troops
was as excellent as before, and gradually the whole garrison joined
in a series of movements which culminated in the fall of Soo-chow."

CHAPTER VI

END OF THE REBELLION

The city of Soo-chow was in the possession of seven rebel generals,
each exercising an independent command, but all recognising one of
their number, Moh-Wang, as their head. Though the rebels had upwards of
40,000 men in the city, they were badly provided with food, and
dissensions broke out among them. Most of the generals were for
yielding, but the brave old chieftain, Moh-Wang, opposed such a step.
Some of the generals made overtures to Gordon and General Ching, making
no other condition than that their lives should be spared. But
overtures were of no use so