Although attired in plain black, like any other lawyer, there was a dignity in his bearing, and a force of character in his manner, that could not fail to make an impression on my mind, young as I was.

“Well,” he said, calling me by name, “where do you come from?”

My embarrassment was so great, in spite of the friendly smile that accompanied these words, that I could only stammer—­

“From Winburg, President,” alluding to the last time I had seen him.

“No, no!  I mean to-day.”

“Oh, from Lindley.  But I could not find out much more.  Some think their next move will be towards Bethlehem, others think they are coming on here.”

“Ah!  Well, I know now that your information was correct, and I am satisfied with your work.  I hope you will continue to be so successful.  Now, go out there again, see what they are doing, and report to me.”

“Thank you, President,” was all I could say, as he shook my hand, and I retired, highly gratified, as you may imagine.

VELD INCIDENTS

My first thought was that my pony would have to be shod before I could expect him to carry me any further.  I found Judge Hertzog, then Chief of Commissariat, in the street, a young man still, of medium height, whose clear brow and incisive speech marked him out from amongst the crowd of farmers, policemen, and idlers that constantly surrounded him with requests for this, that, or the other lacking article or animal.

He gave me an order to have my pony shod before all the others, a very important stipulation, for the ambulance horses had been waiting to be shod for a week.  He added that he would supply us with other horses, but there were none to be bought.  I told him I knew of a farmer who had a horse for sale at eighty pounds.

“Yes, he asks us eighty, and presently the enemy will come along and take it for nothing,” replied Hertzog.

I went to the blacksmith and handed him the order.

“Yes, everybody wants to be first,” said that worthy; “but first come first served, says I.”

“But this is for special service.”

“Can’t help that.”

“Do you mean to disobey the orders of the Government?”

“Oh, no, not I!  But I have no nails; may have some in a day or two.”

“Whose are those you are using now?”

“They belong to the despatch riders’ corps.”

I at once sought out the captain of the corps and persuaded him to count me out thirty nails.  I then returned to the smith and held a candle for him whilst he shoed my horse.  When I led the animal away I found that it was lame.

“That’s nothing,” said the smith.  “It will soon pass.”

“Oh, no.  Just pull that shoe off and put it on again.”

This he did, and then the lameness disappeared.  I took the animal to the stable, filled the crib with fodder, overhauled the vibrator, packed my saddle-bags, and went to bed.