A very noble appearance she presented that afternoon, with her lower decks and portholes simply swarming with red-coats, who appeared to take a deep interest in our movements.

At last we boarded the mail-steamer, and then I had the chance of a few words with the travellers, and of judging how past events had affected them.

Mr.Beit looked ill and worried; Mr.Rhodes, on the other hand, seemed to be in robust health, and as calm as the proverbial cucumber.

I had an interesting talk to him before we left the ship; he said frankly that, for the first time in his life, during six nights of the late crisis he had not been able to sleep, and that he had been worried to death.
"Now," he added, "I have thought the whole matter out, I have decided what is best to be done, so I am all right again, and I do not consider at forty-three that my career is ended." "I am quite sure it is not, Mr.Rhodes," was my reply; "and, what is more, I have a small bet with Mr.Lawson that in a year's time you will be in office again, or, if not absolutely in office, as great a factor in South African politics as you have been up to now." He thought a minute, and then said: "It will take ten years; better cancel your bet."[5] was careful not to ask him any questions which might be embarrassing for him to answer, but he volunteered that the objects of his visit to England were, first, to do the best he could for his friends at Johannesburg, including his brother Frank, who were now political prisoners, practically at the mercy of the Boers, unless the Imperial Government bestirred itself on their behalf; and, secondly, to save his Charter, if by any means it could be saved.

This doubt seemed to haunt him.