Few things have astonished me more during the progress of this war than the number of charges levelled against our foes in reference to the treacherous use of the white flag.  Almost every newspaper that came my way contained some such account; yet, though constantly at the front for nine months, I cannot recall one solitary instance of such treachery which I could vouch for.  I have heard of dozens of cases, and have taken the trouble to investigate a good many, but never once managed to obtain sufficient proof to satisfy me that the charge was genuine.  On one occasion I was following close on the heels of our advancing troops, and had for a comrade a rather excitable correspondent.  When within about fourteen hundred yards of the kopjes we were advancing to attack, the Boers opened a heavy rifle fire; and, though we could not see a solitary enemy, our fellows began to drop.  It was very evident that the enemy were secreted in the rocks not far from a substantial farmhouse, from the roof of which floated a large white flag (it turned out later to be a tablecloth braced to a broom handle).

“There’s another case of d——­ white flag treachery,” shouted my companion.  “I wonder the general don’t turn the guns on that farm and blow it to Hades.”

“What for?” I asked.

“What for!  Why, they are flying the white flag, and shooting from the farmhouse.  Isn’t that enough?”

“Quite enough, if true,” I replied.  “But how the devil do you know they are shooting from the farmhouse?”

“They must be shooting from the farmhouse,” he yelled.  “Why, I’ve been scouring all the rocks around with my glasses, and can’t see a blessed Boer in any of ’em.  No, sir, you can bet your soul they are skulking in that farm.  They know we won’t loose a shell on the white flag—–­the cowards!”

I did not think it worth while to argue with a man of that stamp, but kept my glasses on that farm very closely during the fight that followed.  Right up to the time when our men rushed the kopjes and surrounded the farmhouse I did not see a man enter or leave the house, and when I rode up I found that two women and three children were in possession.  Furthermore, on examination, I soon discovered that, as the doors and windows faced the wrong way, it would have been impossible for a Boer to do much shooting at our men, unless the walls at the gable end were loopholed, which they were not, I know, for I examined them minutely.  Fortunately for the credit of the British Army, most of our generals are coolheaded men who do not allow the irresponsible chatter of the army to influence them.  Otherwise our guns would have been trained upon many a homestead on charges quite as flimsy and groundless as the one quoted above.