54 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



can be detected. In this lonely spot far away from 

 civilisation, day after day throughout the long year, 

 the members of this force manage to occupy all 

 their time, to keep themselves in an irreproachable 

 condition of efficiency and smartness. No duty or 

 errand is repugnant to the Bechuanaland Border 

 Police. A private will start off to ride two or three 

 hundred miles throucjh the bush with nothino; but 

 a haversack containing biscuit, tea and coffee and 

 a small patrol tin. A wonderful esprit-de-corps 

 animates them. Two of the officers had returned, 

 when I arrived, from a ten days' prowl all by them- 

 selves right into Lobengula's country, entered upon 

 partly for survey purposes, partly for the obtaining 

 of information, a service by no means devoid of 

 peril, performed in the most light-hearted but 

 effectual manner." 



This is a great tribute to the organising power of 

 the man who raised the corps and commanded — 

 viz. Sir Frederick Carrington. The two officers he 

 refers to were Captain Sitwell and myself; our 

 adventures I have endeavoured to describe. 



The following lines from Dryden appear so apt, 

 on recalling the pleasures of the past, I make no 

 apology for quoting them here : 



Happy the man, and happy he alone, 

 He who can call to-day his own — 



