CHAP. VI. 
THE HIGHLAND MAJOR. 
35 
four more anecdotes about the old major. Two of 
the incidents occurred at the same post; the other 
two at Commetty’s Post, on the Fish River, after the 
troops had retired from the Province of Queen Ade¬ 
laide to that 6 line of defence.’ On one occasion Fort 
Beresford caught fire. The wind was blowing a perfect 
hurricane, and in the centre of the fort, or square, 
there was a magazine, containing a great quantity of 
powder. The barrack huts and the magazine were 
thatched with rushes, and two sides of the square of 
huts were already consumed by the fire ; the third 
face had caught, and the flakes of flame were flying on 
to the magazine, which had already twice ignited and 
been put out. All at once a murmur arose amongst 
the Highlanders that it was time to abandon the post, 
for fear of being blown up; but the major hearing it, 
called to his old stand-by, Sergeant Johnstone, and 
clearing his throat and with a 6 bended knee,’ said, 4 Um 
—gad—lift,’ and was hoisted to the top of the mag¬ 
azine, when he exclaimed, 4 Um—gad—blow—up—all 
—go—together—put—out—fire,’ at the same time 
tramping out the flakes of fire as they fell on the in¬ 
flammable roof of the magazine. This put fresh spirit 
into the soldiers, and they worked with such a will that 
the tire was soon put out and the remainder of the post 
saved. Did he not deserve the Victoria Cross ? 
After the Province of Queen Adelaide had been 
