EXPERIENCES IX SOUTH AFRICA DURING THE WAR. 263 



be got in this wide world to care so little for life as they did 

 when called on in parties to draw the enemies' tire. All they 

 wanted to do was tlieir duty, and to be thorough men, and they 

 were. I had to many miles, and had risks to run every day, 

 and the conviction came on myself when fear was utterly 

 banished. There would be in travelling by rail, risk of 

 their blowing up the line or the train. We were frequently 

 attended by armour trains going in front pioneering other 

 trains. There was an important battle fought by these trains, 

 and I came in at the end of it. The Boers were making a dash 

 down into Cape Colony under De Wet and Stein. Pluraer 

 had fought them first at Sandrift, and for two or three days 

 across the country. An armour train happened to come in 

 sight of them, and knew nothing about tlie events that had 

 been goin^i; on. We wired for more armour trains to come, and 

 about 10 p.m., when all had arrived, there was an explosion, 

 showing that the line was blown up. We had to wait until 

 the morning to investigate, before we could move trains. 

 When the light did come, the Boer forces of several thousands 

 had crossed the line, but all their wagons, thirty-four of them, 

 they had to leave behind, and we got tliem. However, in 

 fifteen minutes our men had another rail down and trains 

 were passing over it. One train had two twelve-pounders. 

 They fought and turned over some of the Boers as they fled. 

 We however had to be contented with their thirty-four 

 waggons, and some Cape carts and one maxim. Their red- 

 cross waggon was found full of ammunition. 



When I visited the hospitals I found the behaviour and 

 tender-heartedness of our " Tommys " amazing ; they were ever 

 ready to assist the nurses or their brothers in warfare. They 

 were as kind and as tender as women. (Applause.) It is a 

 pleasure to me to be able to testify to this ; and as to the medical 

 officers, no more splendid behaviour and great devotion could 

 be expected of them, their nurses, and staffs. 



Scotsmen are proverbially clannish, I found that out in hospital 

 experience. A Scotch doctor said to one of his countrymen, 

 " Well, mon, I am glad you have come here, because I can always 

 be kind to you. You have only to ask me for anything you 

 want, and I will get it." " Well, doctor, it is very good of you," 

 said the man, " I will just ask a trifle, and that is, can you get 

 me a glass of whisky ? " " Oh ! " said the doctor, " I am so 

 sorry, because we have run short of whisky. We have only a 

 short supply, and none is given except to those patients for 

 whom it is ordered ; but as soon as a fresh supply conies in, I will 



s 



