“Gentlemen,” he said, “these three
gentlemen will travel in your compartment. They
have seen a great deal of the war, and belong to one
of the mounted volunteer corps. They have a wonderful
story to tell you, and I am sure you will be delighted
with their companionship. They will take their
seats just before the men entrain. They must occupy
the seats near the farther window, and as you will
no doubt all be looking out on this side, they will
probably not be noticed, which would be all the better,
as it is a little irregular my taking them up.”
By this time a considerable number of people were
crowded in the station, friends of the officers and
comrades of the sailors, who looked enviously at those
going forward, while they themselves might possibly
not get a chance of doing so. A quarter of an
hour later the officer said:
“I am going to give the order to entrain.
This is my compartment. You and your friends
had better slip into your places at once.”
As soon as they had got in the order was given, and
with the regularity of a machine the three hundred
men entered the train. As soon as they had done
so the officers took their places. The crowd moved
up on to the platform, and there was much shaking
of hands, cheering, and exhortations to do for the
Boers. Suddenly there was a backward movement
on the part of the spectators, and the commanding naval
officer on the station, with several others and a
group of military men, came on to the platform.
They were received by the officers in command of the
sailors and soldiers, and walked with them along the
platform talking. This was evidently a matter
of ceremony only. The usual questions were put
as to the stores, and after standing and chatting
for eight or ten minutes the officers took their places
in the train, the engine whistled, and the train moved
on, amid loud cheering both from those on the platform
and the men at the windows. As soon as they were
fairly off, Chris’s friend said:
“I have already introduced you to these officers,
Mr. King, but I have not told them any of your doings.
I can only say, gentlemen, that this young officer
is in command of a section of Volunteer Horse, and
has done work that any of us might be proud indeed
to accomplish. The best introduction I can give
him, before he begins to tell his story, is by reading
a letter with which General Yule has furnished him.”
BACK WITH THE ARMY
While the letter was being passed round from hand
to hand, a good deal to Chris’s discomfort,
he had time to look more closely than he had done
before at his travelling companions. Three of
them were young lieutenants, the fourth an older man,
shrewd but kindly faced. In introducing him,
his friend said: “This is our medico, Dr.
Dawlish. I hope that you will have no occasion
to make his professional acquaintance.”
When they had all read the letter, the senior lieutenant
