From South Africa.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XXII, 1 June 1901, Page 1016

From South Africa.

•‘The funniest thing 1 heard in South Africa." said a soldier recently invalided from the front, "was told me by the Boers while 1 was enjoying their hospitality as a prisoner of war. Either to damp our spirits or to keep up his own, our guard fold us one day that 'Bobs' had died of enteric fever at Pretoria, Kitchener had become insane. and Baden-Powell--

whom our informant referred to in terms of great respect —had ‘unfortunately fallen from his horse and broken his neck!’ All this, of course, was possible enough, though scarcely probable, and some of us were wondering how much was true, when our friend put us at ease by volunteering another item of ‘news.’ ‘The Americans.' he said, ’had made a big trek, and were besieging India!' The roar of laughter which greeted this statement fairly nonplussed the Boor, who appeared to believe that he was speaking the truth. That yarn." concluded the writer's friend, “did us a power of good, for we knew then how much the 'Bobs' tale was worth.