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chance； though this seems improbable。 At any rate he found me and through the darkness led me back to the camp； which was miles away。 The vituperation of Kaffirs is a mon habit among many white men； but in difficulty or danger may I never have a worse friend at hand than one like the poor Kaffir who is prepared to die for the master whom he loves。
Ultimately the Pretoria Horse was disbanded。 So many British troops had been poured into Africa that the Boers； with their usual slimness； thought the time inopportune to push matters to the point of actual rebellion； and therefore dispersed to their homes to await a more favourable hour。 This came later when Sir Gar Wolseley； who； whatever his gifts； was not blessed with foresight； had； as I have said； despatched all the cavalry back to England。 At this time no local assistance was required in the Zulu War。 So it happened that my soldiering came to a sudden end； for which I was sorry； for I had found the occupation congenial。 Also I was； as I have said； restless and reckless； and since Sir Theophilus had left Pretoria everything seemed changed。 Most of my colleagues had departed this way and that； and one of them； old Dr。 Lyle； was dead。 He had built a house near the town； purposing to settle there； but was seized with some frightful liver plaint。 I went to say good…bye to him； and never shall I forget this last farewell。 At the door of the death…chamber I turned round。 He had raised himself on his arms and was looking after me； his dark eyes filled with tenderness； shining large and round in a face that had wasted to the size of that of a child。 In a day or two he was gone； a martyr to his own goodness if all the tale were told。
Cochrane and I took it into our heads that we would shake off the dust of Government service and farm ostriches。 As a beginning we purchased some three thousand acres of land at Newcastle in Natal from Mr。 Osborn； together with the house that he had built when he was Resident Magistrate there。 We had never seen the land and did not think it worth while to undertake the journey necessary to that purpose； as it lay two hundred miles away。 In this matter our confidence was perfectly justified； since my dear friend Osborn had scrupulously undervalued the whole estate； which was a most excellent one of its sort。
I forget what we paid him for it； but it was a very modest sum。 Or rather we did not pay him at the time； as we wished to keep our working capital in hand； nor do I think that he demanded any security in the shape of mortgages or promissory notes。 He knew that we should not fail him in this matter； nor did we do so。
On my part it was a mad thing to do； seeing that I had a high office and was well thought of； yet； as it chanced； the wisest that I could have done。 Had I stopped on at Pretoria； within two years I should have been thrown out of my employment without pensation； as happened to all the other British officials when Mr。 Gladstone surrendered the Transvaal to the Boers after our defeat at Majuba； or at any rate to those of them who would not take service under the Dutch Republic； as I for one could never have consented to do。
I find among my papers the letter accepting my resignation。 It is as follows：
Colonial Secretary’s Office；
Pretoria： May 31； 1879。
Sir； — I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 29th inst。 tendering the resignation of your office as Master and Registrar of the High Court； and to inform you by direction of his Excellency that he regrets that the Government should lose the services of an officer who has performed difficult duties so satisfactorily。
I have the honour； sir； to be
Your obedient Servant；
M。 Osborn；
Colonial Secretary。
I find also the following letter from Mr。 Kotze； the Chief Justice。
Pretoria； Transvaal： May 24； 1879。
My dear Haggard； — Before you leave Pretoria I desire to record my regret at losing your services as Master and Registrar of the High Court of this territory。
For two years you have discharged th
Chapter 7 MARRIAGE
Death of Prince Imperial — Justin Sheil； early friend of H。 R。 H。 — Thinks of being Trappist monk — H。 R。 H。 tries to dissuade him — Sheil takes simple vows — H。 R。 H。 visits him — Takes final vows as Brother Basil — Death of Father Basil； who had bee Sub…Prior — H。 R。 H。 returns home to Bradenham — Engaged to be married — Married August 11； 1880 — Jack Osborn； son of Sir Melmoth — H。 R。 H。 bees his guardian — Goes to school in England — Returns to South Africa and dies — Sir Melmoth Osborn’s gratitude to H。 R。 H。 and his father — He bees British Resident in Zululand — Origin of character of Alston in “The Witch’s Head” — Letters from Judge Kotze。
One of the last things that happened before I left South Africa was the slaying of the Prince Imperial by a Zulu outpost。 Well can I remember the thrill of horror； and； I may add； of shame； that this news sent through all the land。 Yet it has always seemed to me that the most of the blame should have fallen； not upon the unfortunate officer and his panions who were with the Prince； but on whoever allowed him to go out upon picket duty of so peculiarly dangerous a nature。 The incident itself is easily explained。 Nothing is more terrible than a sudden rush of savages on a little party that does not suspect their presence； especially when the attacking force may perhaps be numbered by hundreds。 The Englishmen concerned lost their heads； that was all。 It was a case of sauve qui peut。 Doubtless until it was too late they thought the Prince was with them。 Well； he died as anyone might be proud to die； and； as it seems probable； by his death changed the history of Europe； or at any rate the destiny of France； for doubtless； had he lived； his chance of succeeding to the imperial throne was excellent。 Again； one wonders whether such things happen by hazard； or if it were the hand of Fate that threw those assegais。
After an absence of four eventful years I arrived in England when I was a little over twenty…three； an age at which many young fellows nowadays seem to be； and indeed often are； but boys。 In one thing I was fortunate： I found all belonging to me alive and for the most part well。 With my two greatest friends of the Scoones’ period of my life； however； Arthur L。 and Justin Sheil； it was otherwise。 The former was dead； he was a good fellow； and I hope that some day and somewhere we may meet again。 Meanwhile God rest him！
My recollection is that Arthur L。‘s illness began in a form of religious mania。 If so； my other great friend； Justin Sheil； also passed into the shadow； or the glory； of religion。 Before proceeding further with my story； here I will tell his； although the end of it may cause me to anticipate。 This I do not only because he was； or rather is； dear to me； although he has long been dead — for I may truly say that the change of death has in no instance altered my affections； unless it be in the manner of increasing them — but for two added reasons。
Of these the first is that his case is the most perfect instance of what I may call the monastic mind that I have encountered。 The second is that I presume that the iron rules of the Trappist monks； save in questions strictly connected with the advantage of their Order； allow of the preservation of no human memorials of those who have passed on。 In their graveyard at Mount St。 Bernard’s Abbey I saw certain low mounds and； at the head of these； little nameless wooden crosses； all that remained of the brethren who had been called away。 Therefore I； a sinner； would make my humble offering to the Manes of a good man and say a few words that I trust may help to preserve his memory among those who e after us。
As it chances； certain letters that Sheil； or Brother Basil； as he came to be called in religion； wrote to me have survived； although I dare say that others are lost。 The first of these evidently was written in answer to one of mine sent to him after my return to England in 1879。 It is dated Mount St。 Bernard’s Abbey； Leicester； October 21st。
After congratulating me on my safe return to England； it says：
I suppose that you have not seen Walsh or the unfortunate Norris since you came； or they would probably have told you of my strange experiment here； I am thinking of being a monk of the Cistercian Order monly called Trappists。 If you have not heard it before I suppose you； who knew me better than most people； will be most surprised。 When I first came here I intended writing to you； but I had quite forgotten your address； and when I got it from my brother in New Zealand I thought I might as well wait till I had made up my mind whether to stop here or not。 I may say that I am still uncertain as to that； the life is hardish； and I am softish； but I am afraid of dropping back into my old ways if I leave； so I am hovering。 。 。 。
The next letter； dated October 26th； is evidently written in answer to one from myself； of the contents of which I have no recollection。 It is clear； however； from the context； that I attempted to dissuade Sheil from the career which he had chosen in language that must have seemed to him almost impertinent。 In fact to a strict Roman Catholic doubtless it was impertinent。 In youth most of us are intolerant；