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arfully hot。 We got to our first stage； Howick； last Friday； which luckily for us was a very pretty place with a fortable hotel。 I say luckily； because we were detained there by the rain till Monday。 We then started at about 9：30 A。M。 for Mooi River （a distance of thirty miles）； which we did not reach until about 8 o’clock in the evening。 The roads were in a positively fearful state： we could only go very carefully at a foot’s pace the whole way； and even then we got into some very nasty places。 I walked a good part of the way； in fact we all did； as it was quite as hard work hanging on driving as walking。 Yesterday we came on here； which was not half such a tiring day； as the roads were paratively very good； and we are told that they will be so now for the rest of the way； which is a fort。 If we are not detained by rain or other mishaps we expect to get to Newcastle next Saturday。 I quite forgot to tell you that the unhappy Gibbs came to sad grief on the way from Maritzburg to Howick； and all on account of her devotion to Bob。 She was nursing the said spoilt animal on her knee when suddenly the carriage went into a hole； gave a lurch and nearly sent Bob flying。 In her efforts to save him out fell Gibbs right between the wheels； but marvellous to relate she was not a bit hurt； only bruised her arm a little and got a good shaking。 。 。 。 At almost every stage we meet fugitives from the Transvaal； but they all seem to look upon Newcastle as safe。 。 。 。 With much love from us both to you all；
Your affectionate daughter…inlaw；
M。 L。 Haggard。
Truly this was an awful journey； especially as my wife was in a state in which great exertion was undesirable。 The roads； as she says； were terrible； being cut up by the passage of guns and troops。 Indeed； there were no roads — simply； in that wet season； breadths of mud…holes sometimes a hundred yards wide； of which holes you might take your choice。 It was into one of these that poor Gibbs fell with the beloved terrier； Bob。 Never shall I forget the splash she caused。 The spectacle of an elderly British lady’s…maid in that hole still clasping Bob to her bosom was almost weird。 The hind wheels of the “spider” went over her； grinding her deeper into the mire。
“Good God！” I said to Stephen； “she is done for。”
My further remarks were interrupted by a series of piercing yells。
“Lord bless you； sir；” answered Stephen； “if she can screech like that there ain’t much the matter。”
Nor was there； except mud and Gibbs’ voluble views upon South African roads。
A day or two after this we galloped in front of a fearful thunderstorm； of which the flashes kept striking behind us； and at last reached shelter just in time。 On another day we ploughed through sodden peat flats； in which our wheels sank to the axles； to the edge of a river — I forget which river。 On the farther bank was the inn。 The night was ing on and the river was in full flood。 What could we do？ To get back across those flats was impossible； to sleep in the rain in the open carriage was impossible； to attempt to cross the flooded river was very dangerous。 My wife； as usual； made up her mind at once。 “Let’s try it；” she said。
I felt bound to give Gibbs her choice。
“Don’t you go a…asking of her； sir；” said Stephen； “or we shan’t never do nauthing。 If we’ve got to drown； she may as well drown too。” Stephen； I may observe； lacked affection for Gibbs。
So we “tried it；” two brave and brawny Zulus wading into the water with us； and hanging on to the sides of the “spider” in order to prevent it from overturning。 A transport rider on the bank； who had warned us against the attempt； shouted valedictory messages： “When you are all drowned； don’t blame me。 Remember that I told you so！”
I answered something appropriate to the occasion and my feelings； and in we went。
The stream was ing down like a mill…race and rising every minute。 Soon the horses were off their legs； but they were plucky beasts and struck out for the farther shore of the drift。 The water ran through the bottom of the carriage； which began to float； but the brave Kaffirs hung on； although they were up to their arm…pits and could scarcely stand。 Gibbs wailed softly in the background and clasped Bob to her breast。 There were a few fearful moments of doubt； then； thank God！ the horses got their feet again； and we dragged through； damp but safe； and slept that night in fort in the inn。
Such were some of the incidents of that extremely arduous journey。 At length we reached Newcastle safe and sound； and drove out to our house on the farm Rooipoint； about a mile and a half from the town。 This house； which was named Hilldrop （the Mooifontein of “Jess；” where it is actually described）； was and no doubt still is a very pretty place； built by Osborn for himself when he was Resident Magistrate at Newcastle。 It is backed by a rocky hill； and its broad verandah mands a wide and charming view。 Round about it stood orange trees — I believe these died after we left — and to the right was a plantation of black wattles。 For a colonial dwelling it was spacious； having a good drawing…room； and altogether the home was one where English folk could live in decency and fort。 Moreover our furniture had arrived； and for the most part had been arranged by the indefatigable Cochrane — “that man who calls himself Mr。 Cochrane；” as Gibbs once described him after some difficulty which interfered with her fort。
I wish I could remember more of the sayings of Gibbs； for they were worthy of preservation。 Only one returns to my mind； however。 It was after our flight before the thunderstorm； a terrific thunderstorm； I admit； which had reduced Gibbs to a perfect jelly of terror。
“Don’t be so foolish； Gibbs；” said my wife； “and make an exhibition of yourself。 Look at me； I’m not frightened。”
“No； ma’am； I see you ain’t；” answered the gasping Gibbs； “and I tell you straight I don’t call it ladylike！”
In short； by contrast with all we had undergone； the place seemed a perfect haven of rest。 This； however； it was not destined to remain for long。 First there were the refugees； some of them people I had known in the Transvaal； who came with their tales of woe and ruin； asking for shelter which we were unable to give。 Then； to our dismay； we learned that on the very day of our arrival Colley had moved out to attack the Nek。
Two days later we heard the sound of firing； and getting back to Hilldrop I received the following note from Beaumont； the Resident Magistrate of Newcastle； who was an old friend of mine； now one of the Natal judges。
28_1_81。
I am sorry to say the troops failed this morning in their attack on the “Nek” and had to retire to their waggon laager； after heavy loss。 We have no further particulars。 I do not think that Newcastle is in any danger。 The signal for alarm in town is a bell； but should I think there is any occasion for it I will send out a runner to warn you。 I wish I could give you a wele under better circumstances； but we must make the best of things。 With my kindest regards to Mrs。 Haggard； upon whom I hope Mrs。 Beaumont will soon be able to call 。 。 。 。
W。 H。 Beaumont。
On the following day； January 30； I wrote a letter to my father； which I have just recovered with the others。
You will see from the address that we have reached this in safety after a rather difficult journey owing to the villainous state of the roads。 Old Gibbs shot straight out of the carriage twice but came to no harm。 Louie is well and expressed herself very pleased with the place。 。 。 。 We have e out in very troublous times。 When for various reasons we made up our minds to e up…country； Newcastle was looked upon as one of the safest places in the Colony； owing to the large body of troops concentrated there。 Nobody dreamed that Sir George Colley could be mad enough to try and force the passes with such a handful of men； and I believe he was again and again warned of its impossibility。 However； the day we got here he started； and a few evenings afterwards we heard the guns going on the mountains。 Next came the intelligence that we had met with a crushing repulse。 It appears that the Boers beat the troops back without difficulty； and from what I can judge it will take 5000 men and a great expenditure of life to force their position。 Nearly all the officers actually engaged were killed； including poor young Elwes （Norfolk） whom I sat next to at dinner the other night。 He was talking to me about you； and said that he saw you the other day at Lynn station talking to the barmaid。 It is all very sad。 I do not think that this place is in danger； but still these are anxious times for us all。 Our men have retreated into laager near the top of the mountain； and the Boers are in laager on the top。 When the reinforcements e there will be a fearful engagement and many officers will be picked off。 All the Boers are in rifle pits behind stone walls。 I think they will have to send more troops。
We have got all our things up here safely and have made the place quite pretty； but somehow one can take no pleasure in anything just now with blood being shed like water all round。 Every time one sees a Kaffir runner ing to the house one feels anxious lest he should be the announcer of some fresh ev