l and the extreme joy of the married men in particular,
she failed to appear in court. Inquiries were made by the police, and it
was found that she had left Adelaide the previous evening. Who had made
it worth her while to disappear was never known. She had, however, made
out the list, which the Police Commissioner received that afternoon by
post. I got a look at it myself afterwards privately, and I was wicked
enough, I suppose, to be sorry that it wasn't published.

CHAPTER IV

THE SOUDAN CONTINGENT

A few months later Mrs. Barr Smith proposed to open the new theatre and
ballroom which had been added to Torrens Park. Private theatricals and
dances were to be the chief attraction. She wished me to take the leading
part in the opening play and coach the others. I knew that I would have
to give more time, than I could really spare, to make it a success.
Further, there was always the possibility of some untoward event
happening which at the last moment might prevent me from taking my part
and probably breaking up the show. My scruples were, however, overcome by
my hostess's kind insistence. We set to work, and all went happily until
three nights before the date on which _The Jacobite_ was to make its
first appearance. The first dress rehearsal was to take place. Clothed in
our beautiful garments we had sat down, a merry party, to dinner. On the
whole I was fairly satisfied with my company, and felt that with a couple
more dress rehearsals it was probable that the show would be a success.

At that very moment Nemesis was ringing the hall bell. In a few minutes
the butler informed me that an orderly wished to see me. In the hall he
handed me an official letter, marked "Urgent and Confidential." I opened
it. I have never had such a surprise in all my life. The document was a
dispatch from Lieutenant Hawker, the officer in charge of the men at the
Fort Largs, stating that he had given some orders to the men that
afternoon and that the majority of them had refused to obey.

Here was a pretty kettle of fish! From the very day of the raising of the
force some three years before there had not been a single instance of
insubordination of any sort. Occasional cases of overstaying leave had
been about the most serious offence that had taken place. And, lo and
behold! without any warning, without the slightest suspicion that
anything was wrong, here was actually a "mutiny." To leave Torrens Park
at once and say good-bye t