B.-P. STORIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13497, 25 May 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

8.-P. STORIES.

Some delightful ' yarns are told .in MajorGeneral R. S. S. Baden-Powell's new book, entitled "Sketches in Mafeking and East Africa." ' "\ ■ '■';./: "' .■ . :■ '

Here is a story of how a soldier evaded the law, which, to preserve game in the Transvaal, ordered that no animals were to be killed except in self-defence. "A soldier seeing a sheep in a secluded spot proceeded to ignore this order, and to turn the sheep into mutton with the aid of his bayonet. Just then an officer came into view round the corner, and Tommy, remembering the terms of the order, turned and plunged his bayonet once more into the wretched sheep, saying at the same time, so as to be overheard, ' Ha! ye savage beast! Ye would bite me, would you?' " . ' \ Mafeking, of course, gives General Baden-Powell a great opportunity. The following anecdote may, perhaps, explain how the garrison- kept up their spirits so well. 8.-P. was watching the effect of some shells, and on turning round saw_a lady cycling up the ,street. "I did not know who she \was, I but I called to her and suggested it would be well if she took cover, as the shells were flying about. She said, ' Sorry, did not know that they were shells,' thanked me very much, and rode away rather apologetically, with the air that she : had been intruding—not a bit frightened. And that was the spirit of all the ladies, as I soon found out."

There is a pathetic little story about "Gentle Annie," a Boer 5-pounder. She only killed one of our men, and he, poor fellow, said to me, smiling, as lie lay in hospital, 'I don't mind—but it does seem bad luck- to be killed by " Gentle Annie" of all guns.' Gentle Annie' had also the duty of shelling us in the early part of the siege when we essayed to play polo; and though she never did us any material damage she enlivened the game pretty considerably."- . .. < J