ed to relate their adventures during the Zulu
war, and the story excited great interest among the officers. When the
column halted for the day, the colonel invited Mr Harvey and the lads
to dine at the mess, and would not listen to any excuse on the ground
that their clothes were better suited for travelling among the native
tribes than for dining at a regimental mess.

The dinner was a very pleasant one, and after the cloth had been removed
and cigars were lit, Mr Harvey, at the colonel's request, related their
adventures north of the Limpopo.

"Your life is indeed an adventurous one," he said, when the trader had
finished. "It needs endurance, pluck, coolness, and a steady finger on
the trigger. You may truly be said, indeed, to carry your lives in your
hands."

"Our present journey has been an exceptionally adventurous one," Mr
Harvey said, "and you must not suppose that we are often in the habit of
fighting our way. I have indeed on several occasions been in very
perilous positions, and some other evening, before we separate, I shall
be glad, if it will interest you, to relate one or two of them."

"By the way," the colonel said, when they took their leave, "remember,
the word for the night is, `Newcastle.' You will probably be challenged
several times by sentries before you get to your waggons, for, although
there is no absolute insurrection at present, there is no saying when
the Boers may break out. They will hardly think of attacking a body of
troops marching peaceably along; still, it is as well to neglect no
precautions. If you are challenged, `Who comes there?' you will reply,
`Friends.' The sentry will then say, `Advance and give the word.' You
walk forward and say, `Newcastle,' and you will pass all right."

The march was continued for four days. At the end of this time they
arrived at the spot where the direct road for Pieter-Maritzburg through
Utrecht left that which they were following.

"Look here, lads," Mr Harvey said; "this road will take you
considerably out of your way. If you like you can follow the column for
another couple of days. You will then cross the south road, and can
there leave them and gallop on by yourselves to Standerton in one day,
and home the next. That will take you back by the 23rd; whereas, if you
go on with me, you will not be back by New Year's Day. We are getting
now to a part of the colony where the English element is pretty strong,
and the Boers are not