第23部分(第3/7 頁)

d　feeling　as　flat　as　ditch　water。

However；　all　these　operations　were　postponed　for　two　years；　for　the　reason　that　so　many　British　troops　were　pouring　into　South　Africa　in　connection　with　the　Zulu　War　that　the　Boers　came　to　the　conclusion　that　the　time　was　not　opportune　to　rebel。　With　their　usual　good　sense　they　waited　till；　with　our　usual　folly；　we　had　shipped　almost　all　the　troops　back　to　England　and　Sir　Gar　Wolseley　had　sent　the　last　cavalry　regiment　out　of　the　country；　and　allowed　（or　perhaps　it　was　Lanyon　who　allowed　it）　three　hundred　volunteers；　nearly　every　man　of　whom　was　a　loyalist；　to　be　recruited　there　for　service　in　the　Basuto　War。　Then　their　chance　came；　one　of　which　they　made　the　most。　Then；　too；　the　Pretoria　Horse；　under　a　slightly　altered　name；　had　its　full　share　of　fighting；　losing；　I　think；　about　a　quarter　of　its　number　in　killed　and　wounded。　But；　alas！　at　that　time　I　was　no　longer　there　to　mand　a　squadron。　I　was　on　the　Natal　side　of　the　Berg；　listening　to　the　guns　thundering　at　Ingogo　and　Majuba。

Sir　Bartle　Frere；　after　interviews　with　the　Boer　leaders　in　their　camp；　reached　Pretoria　in　the　middle　of　April　1879；　and　remained　there　a　fortnight　as　Colonel　Lanyon’s　guest　at　Government　House。　I　remember　that　I　manded　the　guard　of　honour　which　met　him　in　the　veld　and　escorted　him　into　the　town；　a　duty　which　gave　rise　to　a　good　story　that　I　will　tell　at　my　own　expense。

By　this　time　the　Pretoria　Horse　was　a　very　smart　body　of　mounted　men　divided　into　two　squadrons。　I　regret　to　say；　however；　that　although　I　was；　I　believe；　efficient　enough　in　other　respects；　owing　to　a　lack　of　military　training　I　was　not　well　acquainted　with　the　ceremonial　words　of　mand。　When　the　High　missioner　appeared　I　ordered　the　corps　to　present　arms；　which　they　did　i