Kruger in favour of the Uitlanders, and seeing many photographs of this charming-looking girl in the room, I thought I should be right in alluding to her as “your little Queen.”  “She is not my Queen,” was the indignant reply; “Queen Victoria is my Queen.”  And then, quickly turning to Mr. Baker, she continued:  “What have you been telling Lady Sarah to make her think I am not loyal?” Of course I had to disclaim and apologize, but, in view of her well-known political opinions and sympathies, I could not help thinking her extreme indignation a little unnecessary.

FOOTNOTES: 

[9] Lord Randolph Churchill died in January, 1895.

[10] The soldiers’ graves in South Africa have since then been carefully tended by the Loyal Women’s Guild.

[11] The President’s favourite psalm was said to be the 144th, which he always believed was written to apply specially to the Boers.

[12] Short whip.

[13] Major Heaney is an American, and was one of the pioneers who accompanied Dr. Jameson to Mashonaland in 1891.

[14] Mr. Richard Solomon, then Attorney-General, now Sir Richard Solomon.

CHAPTER VI

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR—­MAFEKING, AND DEPARTURE THEREFROM

“War seldom enters, but where wealth allures.” 
DRYDEN.

In August we left Cape Town, and I went to Bulawayo, where I spent two months.  Gordon[15] had been appointed A.D.C. to Colonel Baden-Powell, and during this time was with his chief on the western borders.  The latter was engaged in raising two regiments of irregular horse, which were later known as the Protectorate Regiments, and were recruited principally from the district between Mafeking and Bulawayo.  At the latter town was also another English lady, Mrs. Godley, whose husband was second in command of one of these regiments.  It can easily be imagined that there was little else discussed then but warlike subjects, and these were two dreary and anxious months.  We had little reliable news; the local newspapers had no special cables, and only published rumours that were current in the town.  Mr. Rochfort Maguire, who was then staying with Mr. Rhodes at Cape Town, used frequently to telegraph us news from there.  One day he would report President Kruger was climbing down; the next, that he had once more hardened his heart.  And so this modern Pharaoh kept us all on tenterhooks.  The drilling and exercising of the newly recruited troops were the excitements of the day.  Soon Colonel Plumer[16] arrived, and assumed command of one of the regiments, which was encamped on the racecourse just outside the town; the other regiment had its headquarters at Mafeking.  Colonel Baden-Powell and his Staff used to dash up and down between the two towns.  Nearly all the business men in Bulawayo enlisted, and amongst the officers were some experienced soldiers, who had seen