For this reason I made a point of referring to it on every possible occasion.

As I was eating my solitary supper, Mr.Brink appeared with a letter from Colonel Baden-Powell as follows: "_December 5, 1899._ "DEAR LADY SARAH, "I am so distressed about you.

You must have been having an awful time of it, and I can't help feeling very much to blame; but I had hoped to save you the unpleasantness of the siege.
"However, I trust now that your troubles are nearly over at last, and that General Snyman will pass you in here.
"We are all very well, and really rather enjoying it all.
"I wrote last night asking for you to be exchanged for Mrs.
Delpoort, but had no answer, so have written again to-day, and sincerely hope it will be all right.
"Hope you are well, in spite of your troubles.
"Yours sincerely, "R.

BADEN-POWELL." I then learnt from another letter that Mrs.Delpoort, who had originally expressed the wish to leave Mafeking, where she was residing with many other friends in the women's laager, had changed her mind, or her relatives did not encourage her to leave the shelter of the town; for the Staff had experienced some difficulty in persuading her to agree to the exchange, even if General Snyman allowed the same.

I asked if an answer had been returned to the Colonel's letter, and Mr.Brink replied in the negative.