This train proved afterwards to be absolutely useless when the Boers brought up their artillery.

Night alarms occurred frequently; bells would ring, and the inhabitants, who mostly slept in their clothes, had to rush to their various stations.

I must admit that these nocturnal incidents were somewhat unpleasant.

Still war was not declared, and the large body of Boers, rumoured as awaiting the signal to advance on Mafeking, gave no sign of approaching any nearer.
We were, indeed, as jolly as the proverbial sandboys during those few days in Mafeking before the war commenced.

If Colonel Baden-Powell had forebodings, he kept them to himself.