The story of my defence of Maraisfontein had spread far, and that of my feats of shooting, especially in the Goose Kloof, still farther.

So the end of it was that those in authority commandeered me to serve in one of the continual Kaffir frontier wars which was in progress, and instantly gave me a commission as a kind of lieutenant in a border corps.
Now the events of that particular war have nothing to do with the history that I am telling, so I do not propose even to touch on them.
I served in it for a year, meeting with many adventures, one or two successes, and several failures.

Once I was wounded slightly, twice I but just escaped with my life.

Once I was reprimanded for taking a foolish risk and losing some men.

Twice I was commended for what were called gallant actions, such as bringing a wounded comrade out of danger under a warm fire, mostly of assegais, and penetrating by night, almost alone, into the stronghold of a chieftain, and shooting him.
At length that war was patched up with an inconclusive peace and my corps was disbanded.