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Colonel Lanyon10 said he could see that you had written in too great a hurry。 It is better to take a minute longer in writing to prevent any word being misread here； which might lead to fatal results。 Would you like me to send a good stock of food？ It was no fault of mine that it was not taken with you。 The Landdrost’s instructions were imperative that the men should take nothing。 Parents are wiring into me now and say they hear their sons are starving。 Would you like any of the men relieved？ I should not ask； but do it； only they seem to have got so very nicely into the thing that I would prefer them staying on unless you think I should send some fresh ones。 I think that for the next few days it will not be necessary to send very often。 However I leave this to you。 We are not having all beer and skittles here。 What with guards and fortifying； our time is well taken up。 I have sent down for your letters； also Cochrane’s。
Yours very sincerely；
E。 Jackson。
10 Colonel （afterwards Sir Owen） Lanyon succeeded Sir T。 Shepstone when he went home。
After a while the Boers in the camp got wind of my proceedings； and a large party of them； from thirty to fifty men I should say； rode to the inn fully armed； with the avowed intention of shooting us。 In this emergency I； as the officer in mand； had on the instant to make up my mind what to do。 To attempt flight would； it seemed to me； betray the truth as to the reason of our presence。 Moreover we should almost certainly have been captured。 So I determined that we should stop where we were。
They came； they dismounted； they stormed and threatened。 I on my part gave orders that no man was to suffer himself to be drawn into a quarrel or to do anything unless we were actually attacked； when all had liberty to sell their lives as dearly as they could。 I can see them now； standing about and sitting round the large room of the inn with their rifles between their knees。 I sat in my little room surveying them through the open door； pretending to understand nothing and to be engaged in some ordinary occupation； such as reading or writing。
After an hour or two of this things came to a climax； and I began to wonder whether we had another five minutes to live。 It was then that the ready resource of one of my sergeants； a fine young fellow called Glynn； saved the situation。 One of the Boers paused in a furious harangue to light his pipe； and having done so threw the lighted match on to the floor。 Glynn； who was standing amongst them； stepped forward； picked up the match； blew it out； and exclaimed in tones of heartfelt gratitude and relief； “Dank Gott！” （Thank God）。
The Boers stared at him； then asked； “For what do you thank God； Englishman？”
“I thank God；” answered Glynn； who could talk Dutch perfectly； “because we are not now all in small pieces。 Do you not know； Heeren； that the British Government has stored two tons of dynamite under that floor？ Is this a place to smoke pipes and throw down matches？ Do you desire that all your wives should bee widows； as would have happened if the fire from that match had fallen through the boards on to the dynamite beneath？ Oh！ thank the Lord God。 Thank the Lord God！”
Now the Boers of that day had a great terror of dynamite； of the properties of which they were quite ignorant。
“Allemagte！” said one of them。 “Allemagte！” echoed the others。
Then they rose in a body； fearing lest we had some devilish scheme to blow them up。 In a few minutes not one of them was to be seen。
Shortly after this dynamite incident I was relieved by my co…lieutenant； a very nice fellow whose name； I think； was Fell。 I returned to Pretoria on a beautiful stallion which I had named Black Billy。 I remember that Black Billy took me from the inn to the town in very little over the hour。 Here with the rest of the corps I was stationed at the Government mule stables； not far from the nek through which I believe the Natal railway now runs。
A few nights later things grew more serious。 Our pickets and scouts； to say nothing of natives； announced that the Boer laager； which； by the way； was now pitched much nearer to the town and practically besieging it； had broken up； and that the Boers to the number of several thousand were marching on Pretoria。 So indeed I believe they were； but something； probably the news that we were more or less prepared to receive them； caused them to change their minds at the last moment； with the result that the attack was never actually delivered。 Of this； however； we knew nothing in our mule…stable。 All we knew was that at any given moment we must expect to bear the first brunt of the onslaught of several thousand men； which would first impinge upon our position。 For some reason which I cannot recollect； my manding officer； Captain Jackson； was away that night； I think that he had been sent on a mission by the Government and taken the other lieutenant with him； leaving me in mand of the corps。
Well； I did my best。 A few candles were all that I allowed； set at intervals on the floor of the long building； that they might not shine through the loopholes and draw the enemy’s fire。 I posted my best shots； Cochrane among them； upon the upper platform； and the rest at the loopholes we had prepared upon the ground floor and upon the little external bastions。 Our extemporised pikes were also laid handy for immediate use。
Till dawn we waited thus； growing rather weary at the last； indeed I never remember a longer night。 Then came the news that the Boers had drawn off； leaving Pretoria unmolested； after which we went to bed feeling as flat as ditch water。
However； all these operations were postponed for two years； for the reason that so many British troops were pouring into South Africa in connection with the Zulu War that the Boers came to the conclusion that the time was not opportune to rebel。 With their usual good sense they waited till； with our usual folly； we had shipped almost all the troops back to England and Sir Gar Wolseley had sent the last cavalry regiment out of the country； and allowed （or perhaps it was Lanyon who allowed it） three hundred volunteers； nearly every man of whom was a loyalist； to be recruited there for service in the Basuto War。 Then their chance came； one of which they made the most。 Then； too； the Pretoria Horse； under a slightly altered name； had its full share of fighting； losing； I think； about a quarter of its number in killed and wounded。 But； alas！ at that time I was no longer there to mand a squadron。 I was on the Natal side of the Berg； listening to the guns thundering at Ingogo and Majuba。
Sir Bartle Frere； after interviews with the Boer leaders in their camp； reached Pretoria in the middle of April 1879； and remained there a fortnight as Colonel Lanyon’s guest at Government House。 I remember that I manded the guard of honour which met him in the veld and escorted him into the town； a duty which gave rise to a good story that I will tell at my own expense。
By this time the Pretoria Horse was a very smart body of mounted men divided into two squadrons。 I regret to say； however； that although I was； I believe； efficient enough in other respects； owing to a lack of military training I was not well acquainted with the ceremonial words of mand。 When the High missioner appeared I ordered the corps to present arms； which they did in fine style。 But arms cannot always be kept at the “present；” and in due course it became necessary that they should be returned to their original position。 Then arose my difficulty。 I had either neglected to provide myself with or had forgotten the exact words that should be used。 Yet the occasion was urgent： something had to be done。 So I shouted in stentorian tones — or so at least my military friends used to swear afterwards when they wanted to chaff me； though to this hour I do not believe them — “Put ’em back again！” Well； it served。 The Pretoria Horse grinned and the arms went back。
I saw Sir Bartle a good many times while he was in Pretoria； being brought in touch with him not only as an official but because he and my mother had been friends when they were young together in India。 He was a tall； refined…looking man of about sixty…five； who always seemed to me to be employed in colle