58 - BIG GAME 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. J turned myself half 
round to the right on my saddle to talk with him, and pre- 
