36 
SPOET AND WAE. 
CHAP. VI. 
occupied for about a year or so the policy of the good 
and philanthropic Governor, Sir B. D’Urban, was re¬ 
versed, and it became known that the province was 
to be abandoned to the Kafirs, thus enabling them 
to revert to their savage customs. This new order of 
things emanated from 6 home,’ in accordance with the 
policy of the then Government during Lord Glenelg’s 
term at the Colonial Office. It so happened that a 
suttler named Lucas (a discharged sergeant-major from 
the Cape Cavalry) had built a very good house, which 
actually had a firegrate in one of the rooms—a rare 
thing in those days. Hearing that the province was 
to be given up to the Kafirs, he sold the house to 
the major for a mere song; and the old soldier was 
so proud of the grate that although it was summer, 
and the thermometer at 90°, he would always have a 
fire in it. 
On a particular day I had again been to King 
William’s Town on leave ; and returning at about four 
o’clock p.m., I went to report myself as usual, but could 
not find the commanding officer in any of the rooms. 
In the grand room there was a table, with a flowing 
cloth on, and on the table was an empty bottle and an 
overturned water-jug. 
I was about leaving the front door of the house, 
when I heard the clearing of a throat which I knew 
well; and going round to the 6 grate ’ side of the table, 
