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BLACKWOOD'S

Edinburgh

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PRESS OF

S. W. GREEN'S SON,

74 & 76 Beekman St.,

NEW YORK.

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Ir was Sunday afternoon, the 19th December 1880, and I was lounging in the verandah of my hotel in Pietermaritzburg, digesting the invariable Sunday early dinner of the colony, when a friend, passing by, stopped, and asked me if I had heard the news.

"Have not you heard it yet?" he asked; "why, the Boers have taken Heidelberg, Joubert is Commander-in-chief, and Paul Kruger President of the South African Republic, which they have proclaimed."

"Well, if it's true, that starts me," I thought, throwing away the stump of my cigar, and going off to the Club to hear the news confirmed.

Some weeks before this, when the first symptoms of the Boer rebellion began to be heard of, I had seen the General, Sir G. Colley, and placed my services at his disposal.

"I don't want to go, sir," I had said; "of course, I dislike the Transvaal more than I can say;

VOL. CXXX.-NO. DCCLXXXIX.

but if you think there is any necessity for my going, I am ready to start at an hour's notice."

And indeed, before I was halfway to the Club, I found that I had been taken at my word,short note from the Adjutant-General, asking me if I was prepared to start by the mail-cart that left for Newcastle next Tuesday morning, to take command of the town and garrison of Standerton on the Vaal river, some sixty miles within the Transvaal. Of course I was

ready-soldiers always are ready for active service-and the next day had an interview with Sir George, when I received my instructions.

He was seated in his comfortable study in Government House, the roomy bay-window looking across the lawn to a group of semi-tropical trees; a water-colour picture of a skirmish in Ashantee over the fireplace; a massive oak desk strewn with papers and well-bound books; a cosy arm-chair beside it, in which he was sitting, and another for my

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