We had little reliable news; the local newspapers had no special cables, and only published rumours that were current in the town.

Mr.Rochfort Maguire, who was then staying with Mr.Rhodes at Cape Town, used frequently to telegraph us news from there.

One day he would report President Kruger was climbing down; the next, that he had once more hardened his heart.

And so this modern Pharaoh kept us all on tenterhooks.

The drilling and exercising of the newly recruited troops were the excitements of the day.