o advance seemed too risky； to remain where we were was both wearisome and； with our servants； ruinously expensive。
At length my wife； who； I think； take her altogether； is the most courageous woman I ever met； announced that she would have no more of it： her house was at Newcastle two hundred miles away； and； Boers or no Boers； thither she would go。 There were rumours that Sir George Colley； who was then the Governor and mander…inChief of Natal； intended to attack the passes of the Drakensberg with the few troops at his disposal。 Nobody believed it； since the thing was so obviously a madness。 But I was not so sure。 I went to Colonel （afterwards Sir Charles） Mitchell； the Colonial Secretary； and asked him in confidence if he knew anything。 He replied — Nothing； but that I might be quite certain that so distinguished a soldier would never act foolishly。
So I bought two good horses — which afterwards died of the sickness — harnessed them to the “spider；” and we started。
I think it was on the night before Colley left Maritzburg to take personal mand of the troops at Newcastle that my wife and I dined at Government House。 If so； this historical dinner took place on January 9； 1881。 I believe that there were thirteen of us at table； though on this point I am not absolutely clear； of whom three were ladies — Lady Colley； another lady whose name I forget； and my wife。 The other guests were officers and the members of Colley’s staff。 The only name that I can remember is that of young Elwes； who within a week or two was to die charging the Boer schanzes and shouting “Floreat Etona！” I sat next to him at table。
My wife reminds me of an absurd little incident that happened at this dinner。 Elwes； I think； was A。D。C。 to Colley； and one of his duties — it