tion in subsequent editions: all
communications should be addressed to me, care of my publishers.
C.C.
_The outside wrapper is reproduced from a drawing by E. Oakdale,
by courtesy of Mr. Holbrook Jackson, Editor of "T.P.'s Weekly_."
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION iii
PREFACE v
CHAPTER I
EARLY DAYS
A Kentish Celt--A Rebellious Boy--Four Years in the
Navy--With the 19th Hussars--"Captain X Trees"--A
Studious Subaltern--Chafing at Home--The First
Opportunity 1
CHAPTER II
WITH THE NILE EXPEDITION
A Forlorn Hope--Scouting in the Desert--The Battle of
Abu Klea--Metammeh--The Death of Gordon--A Dangerous
Retreat--"Major French and His Thirteen Troopers" 10
CHAPTER III
YEARS OF WAITING
Second in Command--Maintaining the Barrow
tradition--The Persistent Student--Service in
India--Retires on Half-pay--Renewed
Activities--Rehearsing for South Africa 23
CHAPTER IV
ELANDSLAAGTE AND RIETFONTEIN
The Unknown Commander of Cavalry--Who is General
French?--Advancing without Reinforcements--"This is
your Show, French"--The White Flag--The
Chess-Player--The Victor in Anecdote 32
CHAPTER V
THE TIDE TURNS
White's Dash from Ladysmith--Nicholson's Nek--The
Reverse at Lombard's Kop--A Cavalry Exploit--French's
Dramatic Escape from Ladysmith 45
CHAPTER VI
THE CAMPAIGN ROUND COLESBERG
The Fog of War--A Perilous Situation--Damming "The
Flowing Tide"--Shows His Genius as a Commander--A
Campaign in Miniature--Hoisting Guns on Hilltops--The
Fifty-mile Front--Saving the Situation 52
CHAPTER VII
THE DASH TO KIMBERLEY
French's Pledge--The Task--The First Shell--"Hemmed
in"--"We must break through"--The Lancers' Charge--In
and Out of Kimberley--The Surrender of Cronje 67
CHAPTER VIII
ROUNDING UP THE BOERS
French in the Modder--At Bloemfontein--French and the
Artist--An Ambush--Doing the Impossible Again--Short
Shrift with Barberton Snipers---Some French Stories 82
CHAPTER IX
WORK AT HOME AND RESIGNATION
At Aldershot--Driving Training at High Pressure-
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