But we were very wet and hungry and we got the eggs and some fruit and real Madeira wine and then rowed out again rejoicing。 The pirates demanded their pay half way to the boat while we were on the high seas but they had struck the very wrong men； and I never saw a mutiny quelled so abruptly Somers and I told them we'd throw them overboard and row ourselves and they understood remarkably well The next day we were the admired and envied of those who had not had the nerve 〃to dare to attempt。〃 It was one of the best experiences altogether we ever had and I shall certainly put Madeira on my silver cup。
RICHARD。
After their arrival at Cape Town； where Richard arranged for his wife to stay during his absence at the British front； he started for Ladysmith； sailing on the same vessel on which he had left England。
February 18th； 1900 board Scot。 DEAR MOTHER：
I got off yesterday and am hoping to get to Buller before Ladysmith is relieved。 I could not get to go with Roberts because Ralph has been here four months and has borne the heat and burden of the day； so although I only came in order to be with Roberts and Kitchener I could not ask to have Ralph recalled They wanted me with Roberts and I wanted it but none of us could make up our minds to turn down Ralph。 So I am going up on this side track on the chance of seeing Ladysmith relieved and of joining Roberts with Buller later。 I shall be satisfied if I see Ladysmith fall。 Fortunately I am to do a great deal of cabling for The Mail every day and that counts much more with the reading public than letters
Cape Town is a dusty； wind ridden western town with a mountain back of it which one man said was a badly painted back drop The only attractive thing about the town is this mountain and a hotel situated at its base in perfectly beautiful gardens。 Here Cecil is settled。 I got her a sitting room and a big bedroom and The Mail agent or Pryor pays her 150 a week and will take good care of her。 It really is a beautiful and comfortable hotel and grounds and she has made many friends； and also I forced a pitch battle with a woman who was rude to her when we visited the hospital So； as the hospital people were very keen to have me see and praise their hospital they have taken up arms against the unfortunate little bounder and championed Cecil and me。 Cecil had really nothing to do with it as you can imagine She only laughed but I gave the lady lots to remember。
On the other hand every one is as kind and interested in Cecil as can be。 Mrs。 Waldron whose son is Secretary to Milner and his secretary were more than polite to each of us。 Milner spent the whole evening we were there talking to Cecil and not to the lady we had had the row with； which was a pleasing triumph。 He sent me unsolicited a most flattering personal letter to the Governor of Natal； saying that I had come to him with my strong letters but that he had so enjoyed meeting me that he wished to pass me on on his own account。 Cecil asked me what it was I had talked so much to him about and I asked her if it were possible she couldn't guess that of course I would be telling him how to run the colony。 My advice was to bombard Cape Town and make martial law； for the Cape Towners are the most rotten； cowardly lot of rebels I ever imagined as being possible。 He seemed so glad to find any one who appreciated that it was a queen's colony in name only and said； 〃Mr。 Davis； it is as bad as thisI can take a stroll with you from these gardens （we were at the back of the Government House） and at the end of our stroll we will be in hostile territory。〃
We spent the last day after I had got my orders to join Buller （who seemed very pleased to have me） calling on the officials for passes together and they were in a great state falling into their coats and dressing guard for her and were all so friendly and hearty。 The Censor seems to think I am a sort of Matthew Arnold and should be wrapped in cotton； so does Pryor The Mail agent who apologizes for asking me to cable； which is just what I want to do。 They are very generous and are spending money like fresh air。 I am to cable letters to Cape Town； only to save three days。 So； now all that is needed is for something to happen。 Everything else is arranged。 All I want is to see three or four good fights and a big story like the relief of Ladysmith and I am ready and anxious to get home。 I shall observe them from behind an ant hillI don't say this to please you but because I mean it。 This is not my war and all I want is to earn the very generous sums I have been offered and get home。 We are just off Port Elizabeth。 I will go on shore and post this there。 With all love。 DICK。
Deal's Central Hotel； East London。 February 20th； 1900。 DEAR MOTHER：
We are stopping at every port now； as though the Scot were a ferry boat。 We came over the side to get here in baskets with a neat door in the side and were bumped to the deck of the tender in all untenderness。 This is more like Africa than any place I have seen。 The cactus and palms abound and the Kaffirs wear brass anklets and bracelets。 A man at lunch at this hotel asked me if I was R。 H。 D。 and said he was an American who had got a commission in Brabants horse He gave me the grandest sort of a segar and apparently on his representation the hotel brought me two books to sign； marked 〃Autographs of Celebrities of the Boer War。〃 It seemed in my case at least to be premature and hopeful。
Good luck and God bless you。 This will be the last letter you will get for ten days or two weeks； as I am now going directly away from steamers。 This one reaches you by a spy gentleman who is to give it to Rene Bull of The Graphic and who will post it in Cape Town He and all the other correspondents are abandoning Buller for Roberts。 Let 'em all go。 The fewer the better； I say。 My luck will keep I hope。 DICK。
Imperial Hotel； Maritzburg； Natal。 Feb。 23rd； 1900。 DEAR MOTHER：
I reached Durban yesterday。 They paraded the band in my honour and played Yankee Doodle indefinitely I had corrupted them by giving them drinks to play the 〃Belle of New York〃 nightly。 The English officers thought Yankee Doodle was our national anthem and stood with their hats off in a hurricane balancing on the deck of the tender on one foot The city of Durban is the best I have seen。 It was as picturesque as the Midway at the Fair There were Persians； Malay； Hindoo； Babu's Kaffirs； Zulu's and soldiers and sailors。 I went on board the Maine to see the American doctorsone of them said he had met me on Walnut Street； when he had nearly run me down with his ambulance from the Penna Hospital。 Lady Randolph took me over the ship and was very much puzzled when all the hospital stewards called me by name and made complimentary remarks。 It impressed her so much apparently that she and the American nurses I hadn't met on board came to see me off at the station； which was very friendly。 I have had a horrible day here and got up against the British officer in uniform and on duty bent The chief trouble was that none of them knew what authority he had to do anythingand I had to sit down and tell them。 I wonder with intelligence like theirs that their Intelligence Department did not tell them the Boers fought with war clubs and spears。 I bought a ripping pony and my plan is to cut away from all my magnificent equipment and try to overtake Buller before he reaches Ladysmith and send back for the heavy things later。 It is just a question of minutes really and it seems hard to have come 1500 miles and then to miss it by an hour I arrive at Chievely tomorrow at fivethat is only ten miles from where Buller is to night； so were it not for their dd regulations I could ride across country and join them by midday but I bet they won't let me and I also bet I'll get there in time。 Of course you'll； know before you see this。 Marelsburg is the capital and its chief industry is rickshaw's pulled by wild Kaffi's； with beads and snake skins around them and holes in their ears into which they stick segars and horn spoons for dipping snuff。 The women wear less than the men and have their hair done up in red fungus。
Well； love to you all； to Nora and Dad and Chas； and God bless you。
DICK。
1900。 DEAR DEAR MOTHER：
I am here at last and counting the days when I shall get away。 War does not soothe my savage breast。 I find I want Cecil； and Jaggers； and Macklin to write； and plays to rehearse。 Without Cecil bored to death at Cape Town； I would not mind it at all。 I know how to be comfortable and on my second day I beat all these men who have been here three months in getting my news on the wire。 For I am a news man now； and have to collect horrid facts and hosts of casualties and to find out whether it was the Dubblins or the Durbans that did it and what it was they did。 I was in terrible fear that I would be too late to see the relief of Ladysmith but I was well in time and saw a fight the first few hours I arrived。 It is terribly big and overwhelming like eighty of Barnum circuses all going at once in eighty rings and very hard to understand the geography。 The Tugela is like a snake and crosses itself every three feet so that you never know whether you have crossed it yourself or not。 Every one is most kind and I am as comfortable as can be。 Indeed I like my tent so much that I am going to take it to Marion。 It has windows in it and the most amusing trap doors and pockets in the walls and clothes lines and hooks and ventilators It is colored a lovely green I have also two chairs that fold up and a table that does nothing else and a bed and two lanterns； 3 ponies； one a Boer pony I bought for 12。 from a Tommy who had stolen it。 I had to pay 125 each for the other two and one had a sore back and the other gets lost in my saddle。 But war as these people do it bores one to destruction。 They are terribly dull souls。 They cannot give an order intelligently。 The real test of a soldier is the way he gives an order。 I heard a Colonel with eight ribbons for eight campaigns scold a private for five minutes because he could not see a signal flag； and no one else could。 It is not becoming that a Colonel should scold for five minutes。 Friday they ch