And during all this time the native runner with the message to Colonel Roosevelt was loafing the morning away in our camp.
What the message might be, of course, we didn't know, but we hoped that it was nothing of importance.

It was only when the colonel and his party reached our camp that the message was delivered.

As we stood talking and congratulating everybody on how well he was looking the colonel casually opened the message.
He seemed amused, and somewhat surprised, and at once read it aloud to us.

It was from America, and said: "Reported here you have been killed.
Mrs.Roosevelt worried.

Cable denial American Embassy, Rome." It was dated November sixth, eight days before.
"I think I might answer that by saying that the report is premature," he said, laughing, and then told the story of a Texas man who had commented on a similar report in the same words.
Colonel Roosevelt certainly didn't look dead.