“MAFEKING,” December 3, 1899.

     “MY DEAR SARAH,

“I am delighted to hear you are being well treated, but very sorry to have to tell you that Colonel Baden-Powell finds it impossible to hand over Petrus Viljoen in exchange for you, as he was convicted of horse-stealing before the war.  I fail to see in what way it can benefit your captors to keep you a prisoner.  Luckily for them, it is not the custom of the English to make prisoners of war of women.

     “GORDON WILSON.”

Of course I was grievously disappointed, but at the same time I had really expected no other answer, as I informed Mr. Brink (the General’s second secretary), who had brought me the letter.  He was gravely apologetic, and informed me the General and Commandant were holding a Kriegsraad early on the following morning, when my case would receive their full consideration.  In the afternoon we had the excitement of seeing the Pretoria coach drive up to the laager with much horn-blowing and whip-cracking.  Later some newspapers were brought across, and I was able actually to peruse a Transvaal paper only two days old.  The General’s other secretary, who presented them to me, made some astounding statements, which he said had just come up on official wires—­namely, that England and Russia would be at war before that very week was out, in what locality he did not know; and that Germany had suddenly increased her fleet by many ships, spending thereon L10,000,000.  To this I ventured to remark that the building of those ships would take four or five years, which would make it almost too late to assist the Transvaal in the present war.  I also reminded him casually that Germany’s Emperor and Empress were, according to their own papers, then paying a visit to Queen Victoria, which did not look as if that country was exactly unfriendly to England.  To this he had nothing to reply, and I saw that this imperial visit was a sore subject with my entertainers.  For this reason I made a point of referring to it on every possible occasion.  As I was eating my solitary supper, Mr. Brink appeared with a letter from Colonel Baden-Powell as follows: 

     “December 5, 1899.

     “DEAR LADY SARAH,

     “I am so distressed about you.  You must have been having an
     awful time of it, and I can’t help feeling very much to blame;
     but I had hoped to save you the unpleasantness of the siege.

     “However, I trust now that your troubles are nearly over at
     last, and that General Snyman will pass you in here.

     “We are all very well, and really rather enjoying it all.

     “I wrote last night asking for you to be exchanged for Mrs.
     Delpoort, but had no answer, so have written again to-day, and
     sincerely hope it will be all right.

     “Hope you are well, in spite of your troubles.

     “Yours sincerely,