CHAP. YI. 
THE HIGHLAND MAJOR. 
31 
place at the forest. He was not in the front room, but 
I found him in bed in the inner one, and in that glo¬ 
rious state in which it was his pride to be. He was 
also peculiar in other respects, for he spoke, when he 
could speak at all, in short sentences, like Jingle, in 
4 Pickwick ; ’ and when I made him understand that the 
detachment at the forest was attacked he said, 6 Um— 
gad, Bisset—good fellow—go—half-company follow.’ I 
replied, 6 All right; I am mounted, and will go on and 
take command.’ 
I at once started with my mounted orderly and 
galloped down a slope of about 300 yards to the 
Buffalo River; crossed the ford, then raced for two miles » 
and a half, and cantered into the little bush camp 
while the men were still firing. Luckily I was not 
shot, and I called upon Sergeant Cohen to report what 
was the matter. This great Highlander, standing about 
six feet two, stepped up, and, saluting me in the old- 
fashioned manner, said : 6 Ah, mon, we’re attarcked— 
we’re attarcked by the Kaafers ; they’re shooting (shout¬ 
ing) and hallooing aal roound us—daarnt yer heer 
thum ? ’ And I certainly did hear 6 Boorg, Boorg, Baarg, 
Baarg,’ in all directions at once, all round and above us ; 
and the more the men fired the more the c shooting 
and hallooing,’ as the sergeant called it, continued. I 
at once recognised the familiar screaming and screech¬ 
ing of baboons, and cried out, fi Don’t fire another shot, 
