A GARDEN DIARY 147 
many, or how few, is a detail. Few or many 
they are all civilians, undiluted, country-bred 
civilians, good shots and good riders; men of 
varying ages, but all with a more or less intimate 
knowledge of the local conditions. They are— 
but generalities are so unsatisfactory —let me 
take one of them, and suppose myself to be 
him, and I can be multiplied afterwards as 
required. Here I am; big and strong, level- 
headed and resolute; no boy—far from it—but 
sound in health and vigorous, a local magnate 
in a small way, fairly good at most sports, rather 
more than fairly good at rifle-shooting ; a familiar 
figure formerly at Wimbledon, more recently at 
Bisley. Nothing can be further from my inten- 
tions than to obtrude my services; I wish that 
clearly to be understood. At the. same time if 
I can be of any use under the circumstances, 
you had better say so! 
With South Africa fresh in all our minds, can 
there be any question as to the answer? What 
more desirable material could unfortunate, under- 
manned commander have, or desire? As to 
what he could do with me there are plenty of 
answers ready. He might place me in certain 
chosen positions, rifle and field- glass beside 
me, and desire me to pick off certain of the 
enemy’s officers, who are known to be surveying 
the country. He might fill a country house or 
two with me and others like me, and so prepare 
