For be it remembered it was not until he was carried to Mombasa, nearly two months after he was hurt, that he reached any place where there was a telegraph.

By this time also, those at Mombasa had plenty of fresh casualties to report, and indeed were not aware, or had forgotten what exact story had been sent home concerning Godfrey who could not speak for himself.

So it came about through a series of mischances, that at home he was believed to be dead as happened to many other men in the course of the great war.
After he came to himself at the Mena House Hospital, Godfrey inquired whether there were not some letters for him, but none could be found.
He had arranged with the only person likely to write to him, namely Isobel, to do so through the War Office, and evidently that plan had not succeeded, for her letters had gone astray.

The truth was, of course, that some had been lost and after definite news of his death was received, the rest had not been forwarded.

Now he bethought him that he would cable home to Isobel to tell her that he was recovering, though somehow he imagined that she would know this already through the authorities.