Irish ex-soldier employed as a camp policeman was asked by the general
how they were working. "Fine, sir," he said. "And what are they called?"
"Well, sir," said Pat, "I am not quite sure, but I think they call them
_insinuators_." Kitchener had a hearty laugh.

On the Thursday evening I was ordered to arrange for a certain small
portion of the troops to leave camp at two o'clock next morning under the
command of an officer specially selected. Their destination was not
divulged. The remainder of the troops under my command were to bivouac at
a place called Signal Hill, some three miles from the camp, at 7 A.M.
next day and await instructions. These orders were carried out. Sharp at
half-past seven Lord Kitchener and his staff rode up to Signal Hill. I
was not aware of the whereabouts of the small force that had left the
camp at 2 A.M.

He sent for me and informed me that he had prepared me a task to be
carried out at once. The idea was that an enemy's convoy and
escort--which was composed of the troops we had detached the night
before--were marching along certain roads following up an enemy column.
The position of the column of the enemy's troops and convoy were roughly
given. My business was to capture the convoy with the troops at my
disposal, and he wished me to at once give my orders to my commanding
officers for carrying out my plans. The commanding officers were
assembled without delay. My own mind was soon made up as to my plans. The
orders were given, and within a quarter of an hour of the time when I had
left Lord Kitchener my troops were on the move.

An amusing incident happened afterwards. One of my cavalry brigades had
been ordered to cut off the convoy. It had done so and was moving rapidly
to close in on it. I myself was riding with them; it was the last phase
of the attack. Knowing that the manoeuvre was over, for we had captured
the convoy, and seeing Lord Kitchener and his staff not very far away, I
rode up to him to report. With something of a smile on his face he said
to me when I reached him, "Have you come to surrender yourself? Because,
if not, I am going to make you a prisoner. I am here with your enemy, who
has four guns at this point" (they were imaginary), "you must stay here
with me." So I was taken prisoner. He then asked me to explain to him the
position of my troops at that moment. In doing so I told him that, on our
right, along the crest of the hill on which the convoy was travelling, I