Later some newspapers were brought across, and I was able actually to peruse a Transvaal paper only two days old.

The General's other secretary, who presented them to me, made some astounding statements, which he said had just come up on official wires--namely, that England and Russia would be at war before that very week was out, in what locality he did not know; and that Germany had suddenly increased her fleet by many ships, spending thereon L10,000,000.

To this I ventured to remark that the building of those ships would take four or five years, which would make it almost too late to assist the Transvaal in the present war.

I also reminded him casually that Germany's Emperor and Empress were, according to their own papers, then paying a visit to Queen Victoria, which did not look as if that country was exactly unfriendly to England.

To this he had nothing to reply, and I saw that this imperial visit was a sore subject with my entertainers.