For months together, we are told, he would
drink nothing but pure water; and then ... water that was not so
pure. In his fits of melancholy, he would shut himself up in his
tent for days at a time, with a hatchet and a flag placed at the
door to indicate that he was not to be disturbed for any reason
whatever; until at last the cloud would lift, the signals would
be removed, and the Governor would reappear, brisk and cheerful.
During, one of these retirements, there was grave danger of a
native attack upon the camp. Colonel Long, the Chief of Staff,
ventured, after some hesitation, to ignore the flag and hatchet,
and to enter the forbidden tent. He found Gordon seated at a
table, upon which were an open Bible and an open bottle of
brandy. Long explained the circumstances, but could obtain no
answer beyond the abrupt words--'You are commander of the camp'--
and was obliged to retire, nonplussed, to deal with the situation
as best he could. On the following morning, Gordon, cleanly
shaven, and in the full-dress uniform of the Royal Engineers,
entered Long's hut with his usual tripping step, exclaiming 'Old
fellow, now don't be angry with me. I was very low last night.
Let's have a good breakfast--a little b. and s. Do you feel up to
it?' And, with these veering moods and dangerous restoratives,
there came an intensification of the queer and violent elements
in the temper of the man.
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