58 BIG GAM/i SHOOTING 



Time wore on. I was obliged to return to England. John 

 accompanied me to the Cape. I told him, in part, how I 

 valued his services, and asked him if I could in any way repay 

 my debt of gratitude. I had taught him to read, in the bush, 

 but that was the only good I had ever done him. His answer 

 came, after some hesitation. He had heard so much of 

 England that he should like, of all things, to go with me there. 

 Two days later we were on board ship together. He, as 

 usual, was everything to everybody helping the steward, 

 attending the sick ladies, nursing the babies ; the idol of the 

 sailors, to whom he told stories of bush life, the adored of 

 the nurses. John, with all his virtues, was a flirt the admirer 

 and admired of all womankind. On arriving in England, I left 

 him in London and went down to my brother's. He hesitated 

 about my henchman, thinking a real live black man would 

 hardly suit the household of a country clergyman. But his 

 coachman fell sick. Could John drive? I should think so. 

 He was the best eight- in-hander in Cape Town. Down he 

 came, and in half an hour he was perfectly established in the 

 family. My brother declared he never had such a coachman, 

 and was very kind to him, timidly at first. The cook taught 

 him writing ; the lady's-maid went on with his reading. I 

 shall not forget meeting him with the two women, one on 

 either arm, chatting with them in the most accomplished style. 

 His stay in England was limited to six months, as we had 

 agreed, and he went back to the Cape with a friend of mine, 

 who wrote most highly of him. 



Two years passed away ; I was a wanderer again ; and at 

 the beginning of the Crimean War found myself carrying secret- 

 service money to Colonel, now Field Marshal, Sir Lintorn Sim- 

 mons, political agent at Shumla. On my return to the coast I 

 fell in with a cavalry regiment and the 6oth Rifles encamped 

 near Devna, a few miles from Varna. A sergeant of the latter 

 regiment saluted as I passed, and asked for news from the 

 front. Silistria was then besieged. I turned myself half 

 round tc the right on my saddle to talk with him, and pre- 



