SOUTH AFRICA FIFTY YEARS AGO 59 
 sently felt a hand placed very gently, lovingly, on my left 
_ foot. John stood by my stirrup, his face a picture of affec- 
tionate triumph at having caught me again. He had taken 
service with an officer of the 60th. We threw ourselves 
_ down under a bush and renewed old memories. The Major, 
4 near whose tent we were, called John, and, finding from him 
_ who I was, most courteously entreated me, telling me how 
beloved John was by the regiment, and how well, through 
_ him, they knew my name. I had letters to deliver at Con- 
_ stantinople, and went on. John, I believe, sickened, and was 
_ invalided to England ; but for two or three years I heard no 
_ more of him, for I was away in South America and elsewhere. 
Shortly after my return home a letter came to me, asking if I 
‘could recommend a black man named ‘John Thomas’ as a 
butler! He had referred the writer tome. I was obliged to say 
I knew nothing of his capabilities in this line, but added that, 
as a staunch ally in a fight with an elephant and an absolutely 
trustworthy man in ail the relations of life (save that of a 
butler, in which I had not tried him), I could most highly 
tecommend him. My friend engaged him, and had an 
excellent servant, for such was John’s power of adapting him- 
‘self to circumstances that nothing ever came amiss to him. 
_ But the dark day was coming on ; and, in the midst of his affec- 
- tionate service, beloved from the head of the house to the 
" youngest child, trusted and never found wanting, always ready 
and always willing, this fine, noble fellow died. I heard of 
is sickness too late to see him alive on earth, but I trust 
master and man may hereafter meet as brothers in 
Heaven. 
_ We had been shooting in this Ba-Wangketsi country for a 
ortnight, and the work had been very hard. One morning 
after breakfast, my companion, who was busy cleaning the 
