About midday I received a formal reply from Gordon, as follows: "MAFEKING," _December 3, 1899._ "MY DEAR SARAH, "I am delighted to hear you are being well treated, but very sorry to have to tell you that Colonel Baden-Powell finds it impossible to hand over Petrus Viljoen in exchange for you, as he was convicted of horse-stealing before the war.

I fail to see in what way it can benefit your captors to keep you a prisoner.

Luckily for them, it is not the custom of the English to make prisoners of war of women.
"GORDON WILSON." Of course I was grievously disappointed, but at the same time I had really expected no other answer, as I informed Mr.Brink (the General's second secretary), who had brought me the letter.

He was gravely apologetic, and informed me the General and Commandant were holding a Kriegsraad early on the following morning, when my case would receive their full consideration.

In the afternoon we had the excitement of seeing the Pretoria coach drive up to the laager with much horn-blowing and whip-cracking.