PREFACE 



made for himself an imperishable name, 

 not only by the gallantry and marvellous 

 resource that marked his defence of the 

 place, but by the unfailing cheerfulness 

 with which he sustained and revived the 

 spirits of soldiers and civilians under his 

 charge. The personality of the General, 

 all that he said and did, had said and 

 done, became matters of intense interest, 

 and naturally induced me to turn up 

 these sketches, only again to be delighted 

 by their freshness, vigour and charm. 

 To preserve them in book form became 

 at once my keen desire. The only point 

 to be considered was the author's views 

 on the subject. I therefore cabled to 

 Mafeking, and after a long wait, which 

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