As an additional mark of favour, the Commander-in-Chief and his retinue gave the defender of Mafeking a special send-off, riding with him and his officers some distance out of the town.

This procession was quite an imposing sight, and was preceded by a company of turbaned Indians.

Presently, riding alongside of General Baden-Powell, on a small, well-bred Arab, came the hero of a thousand fights, the man who at an advanced age, and already crowned with so many laurels, had, in spite of a crushing bereavement, stepped forward to help his country in the hour of need.

We were delighted when this man of the moment stopped to speak to us.

He certainly seemed surprised at the apparition of two ladies, and observed that we were very daring, and the first of our sex to come in.