The Cambrian

Dr. Senlecq, who was to have been chief physician to the ambulance which the Vi- comte de Villebois-Mareuil was organising for the benefit of the Boers, wrote to Mr. Brodrick protesting against embargo laid on the field hospital by the British Government Talk about centenarians! A Welsh corre- spondent informs the London. "Daily Newø that the following inscription on a tombstone in Amroth Churchyard, near Tenby, has just been brought to light:- "Here lieth the body of Jobn Rees, who departed this October 17, 1824, I Aged 249 years.. Reader prepare to meet th.v According to an optical journal t. er a E 6hort-sighted people in SOUTN. ales than any other part of Great Brita.ln.

LITEBARY BUREAU. Mr. Joseph Hocking, the popular novelist, author of "The Scarlet Woman," "The Purple Robe," etc., has drawn down upon himself the thunders of the' Vatican. Two at least of his books were written to expose Romish errors, and to arouse the public to the insiduousness and the persistency with the inaiduousnees and the persistency with which Roman proselytizing goes on in this country. Now we hear that Rome has replied by placing Mr Hocking's book upon the Index Expurgatorius. Mr. Hocking will, no doubt, regard this as the highest compliment and the most signiificant tribute to the influence of his books which could possibly be paid him. In her new novel, "The Way of Escape" (6s.), now being published by Mesrs. William Blackwood and Sons, it will be found that in point of captivating interest and freshness of handling, the author has repeated the success of "Mona Maclean," the book which some years ago placed Dr. Margaret Todd in the forefront of popular novelists. "The Way of Escape" analyses a situation of per- ennial interest with great delicacy and subtlety, and the characterisation of the book is exceptionally varied and strong. The Spring number of "Bibby's Quar- J edited by Mr. Joseph Bibby, is an admirable production, the illustrations being better and more numerous than ever, while the Literary contributions cover a wide range of topics, and are well written and suitable. The coloured page illustrations will be spec- ially appreciated and are of high artistic merit. Some half a dozen of these are given. Then the portraits of fine specimens of live stock, of which several appear on nearly every page, are remarkably good, and, with superior paper, are beautifully Priinted. They comprise horses, cattle, sheep and pigs, in groups and singly, many of the animals having been winners at leading shows. The topics discussed in this section are compre- hensive, and many useful practical hints are given on live stock management, dairying, cultivation of the land, growing of crops, manuring, etc. The literary supplement will be read with interest and profit. An excellent biographical sketch, with accompanying por- trait, is given of Mr. James Bibby, whose business ability is well known. It is men- tioned that his serious hobby outside hie buiness is astronomy, and he has fitted up at the top of his house at Aintree one of the finest observatories in the North of England. The "Quarterley" is published by Messrs. J. Bibby and Sons, Exchange Chambers, Liver-* pool, price 6d., and readers will find it won- derful value for the price. Mr. J. H. M. Abbott, late corporal in the First Australian Horse, in his book, "Tommy Cornstalk: being Some Aocouats of the Less Notable Features of the South African War" (Longmans) published last week, says that an engine-driver on the railway between Kroon- stad and the Transvaal capital thus described the manner of "Boba and Kitchener" "Oh. yes," he said, "Bobs an' Kitchener comes along sometimes. My colonial, y' oughter see the difference at the stations, though! W'en 'BohsV train pulls up, he gets out an' stroUs along the platform* an' everybody knocks off work so's to come up an have a look at him. He iee walks about among the crowd, talkin' to 'em like me an' you would. Aekg 'em how they're gettin' on for rations, an' so on. 'Course, he's never familiar, or anything like that—Y' can always see he s Boss—an* if he notices anything wrong he lets 'em know, quick an' lively- but he seemp to be more of a friend to every- body than anything else. But w'en 'Herbert' steps out of his carriage, there's hardly a soul to be seen on the platform—they're all away diggin* trenches, or mountin' guns, or sooutin' roun' the country—any blessed thing, so long as he can see 'em workin'. Lor4 help 'em if they ain't." Perhaps the enginendriver was speaking out of the fullness of a personal experience. A sentry by the. college at Sunnyside was asked by the Australian jestingly one dav did he know the Little Man? 'Know 'im!" he replied; w'y ynss, I jes' do know 'im. Friend o' the fam'ly 'e is. Day afore yestiddy 'e comes along the street on foot, an' w en 'e gits ter the gite, er course I stan's ter ther 'present.' 'E comes bowlin' in, Is chippy 's if 'e'd bin to a bloomin' dawg-fight. 'Good arternoon, sentry,' 'e sez, 'any one bin arekin' arter the ole man?' I was that took back I 'ardly knows what ter s'y to 'im. Anyw'y, I manages ter git out as I didn't think no one 'ad called. 'Wot's yer nime, sentry?' 'e sez. So I tells 'im— nime, an' number, an' regimint. 'Wasn't yer farther with M* T«r Khanderar?' 'e øez. Well, Lor lummt! yer could er knocked me hover—me ole man 'ad bin there, but I didn't think Bobs 'd er mide 1IS acquinetance. Well 'e did. Remembered 'im fer being' 'colour' in a comp'ny wot 'd done somethink or other. Ain't 'e a nobby little bloke? 'E knows crowds an' crowds er blokes, too—an' yit 'e remembers me ole man jes' w'en 'e 'ears 'is nime!" "This," saya Corporal Abbott, "is quite a true story. At least, "if it is not, it is the •entry s lie, not mine." The second volume of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society's "Report on the Climates and Bathe of Great Britain" is now published by Messrs. Macmillan. The vol- ume deals with the climate of London in the first place, and characterise); the different localitwg from a sanitary point of view, in addition to discussing more general c:mo- tions, such as water supply and fogs. Tlio East Coast. Midland Counties, Lancashire Lake Districts, and the North generally are xT^TC^ly treated in the same detail. North Wales and South Wales are handled separately; Ireland is discussed in a siagle article of some 200 pp. The book may be usefully consulted either by tourists con- sidering a holiday, or by those in search of a residence. Under the title, "The Credulity of the Acts of the Apostles," the same pub- lishers issue in one volume, the Hulsean Lectures delivered by Dr. F. H. Chase, President of Queen's College, Cambridge, in the year 1900-1. This book i& a vindication of the historical accuracy and value of the Acts, based upon minute and patient investi- gation.

DRINK "p|"ORNIMAN'S pURE TEA. In Packets only, and Full Weight without Wrapper. Always good alike. PRICEs-l/4 TO 3/6 PER LB. Sold in Awamea and District by- TAYLOR & Co., Ltd., 6, 99 Oxford-street; 100, Brynyn,°r"r?5 » Walter-road and the Dnnne, Mumbles. HEAD, 69, Gone-lane, Swansea. BONNMT, 7, Heathfi -ld-street, Swansea. CO-OPBRATIVK SOCIETY, 9. Portlana-et., &WAJJO0A< CLARK, Grooer, 77, Oxford-street, Swansea. DAVIKB, 167, High-street, » DAVI*S, Grocer, » LEWIS A Co., 8, JONBS, Grooer, 64, u MOORE, 14, St. Helen's-road, WATSON BROS., SWANEEA. WILLIAMS, Grocer, 58, Oxford-street, BEVAN, Cbemist, Morriston. MORGAN, Grocer, LEWIS, Grooer, Her t-street, Pontardawe. EVANS, Grocer, A1twen. DA VIES, Grocer, Olydach. JSNKIN BROS., LTD^, Drug Stores, Clvda"h. EDWARDS. SUPP^J Store*, Aberorave. Grocer Blackpill, DAVIBS, Grocer, Llaneamlet. DAVBY, Grooer. Hafod. EVANS A 1 Brynmill ?ALSr £ eJ nif1*' Tbe St<>re8. Mumbles. EVANS, TeiL Dealers, Mumbles.

THE FARM AND GARDEN, GRAZING V. SOILING. I Few, if any, grazing lands produce enough I feed in early autumn to maintain the best flow of milk, so that progressive farmers are gradually turning more and more of their attention to the production of soiling crops, which can be fed in the stable. This is es- pecially the case as regards farmers who, having highly priced arable land, are natur- ally anxious to keep the largest number of stock they profitably can per acre. Formerly the advantage of soiling was a subject of debate, but now conclusive evidence of the benefit of the system has been furnished by practical trial of it. The times call for in- tensive farming, and soiling is essentially intensive farming, because it insures per foot a greater yield of food than is otherwise obtainable. Indeed, the results of very care- fully conducted experiments, carried out under various conditions in different coun- tries show that from three to five times as much stock can be kept per acre by soiling as IS possible where the land is grazed. Gras- ing ris, to our mind, a very wasteful process, in that very much fodder is necessarily trampled down or fouled by stock, and is thus wasted entirely. The preserving of fences, increased comfort of animals, and larger supply of better preserved manure are additional advantages contingent on the prac- tice of soiling. The amount of soiling crops and the time when they are required are matters on which each farmer must be his own judge. From a quarter to a half square rod per day for each mature beast will generally be needed. Amongst the crops lending themselves specially to the system are lucerne (wherever it can be grown),, win- ter rye, winter wheat, clovers, meadow grass, oats and peas, barley and peas, trifolium, AND maise. SOME MILKING HINTS. Probably there is no cause which does more to lessen the secretion of milk than the failure to nuilk cows quite dry. Any milk left in the udder acts as a direct check to the secretion of a further supply, and very frequently becomes so positive an irritant as to set up some kind of inflammation. Hence clean milking is one of the first essentials on the dairy farm. The usual practice is to milk twlice in the 24 hours, and this system is generally perfectly satisfactory if the time is equally divided, so that there is the same period between every two milkings. Here and there where a cow's udder becomes un- duly distended between milkings, a slightly increased flow can be secured by more fre- quent milking, for it appears probable that secretion goes on more rapidly during the actual process of milking than at any other time, and there is no doubt that the disten- tion of the udder and milk channels acts as a check upon secretion. The great point to remember is to milk at regularly recurring hours. The more irregularities that creep into the milking practice, so much the less will the secretion and supply become. The mere fact of milking an hour earlier or later than usual may make a material difference in the yield, as also does the actual method of milkling. Generally speaking, rapid milk- ing, when effected quietly and with due at- tion to the comfort of the cow, ensures the largest yield. REGULARITY and the careful avoidance of disturbing ele- ments of every kind are the greatest factors of uniformly large milk secretion. Quite apart from the influences of the supply of food, temperature extremes Iete,, each animal possesses, to a great extent, the power of withholding already secreted milk when ner- vous or exdited in any way. This nervous condition may be, and frequently is, caused by a. new or unakilful milker, by fright, by too much mwttMe. and by the presence* of an animal in season. The withholding of milk is only a temporary matter, but if of frequent recurrence it operates very injuri- ously on the supply just in the same way as does the failure to milk cows quite dry. Of course, some animals are worse than others, because temperaments vary, and some will be found of such phlegmatic character as to be unaffected by disturbing influencea of the kind specified. These are naturally the most valuable to the dairy farmer, who, though consistently striving after regularity and uniformity in the surroundings of his stock, can hope to altogether eliminate dis- turbing influences, as they always prove to some extent beyond control. Moreover, these phlegmatic cows are, other attributes being equal, the best to breed from for the produc- tion of dairy stock, since,, just as the form and external characteristics of the progeny are generally determined by those of the sire, so the temperament and internal char- acteristics of the young generally follow those of the dam. ON SOWING LUCERNE. We strongly advocate thick seeding of this excellent fodder crop because the plant is less likely to be laid by adverse weather, weeds are better kept under, and the stems are less woody than when thin sowing is practised. Quite a. number of farmers have already sown their lucerne, which is a very risky proceeding. Of course we may have specially favourable weather, in which case the plant will be all right; but unfortunately there are more likely to be some late frosts, which may very seriously injure the young lucerne. Quite the end of April or the begin- ning of May is the best time for sowing- Broadcasting is generally the method of seed- ing adopted; but we, personally, prefer sow- ing in drills, as it renders weediDflf more simple, and weeds are the greatest enemies of the lucerne crop. Indeed, initial iree>- dom of the land from weeds is as eesen-^ tial to success as are a friable soil and loose sub-soil. The seed need not be covered at all on heavy soils, it being sj1 C1f? 0 roll it in with a Cambridge roller, though on lighter land a light harrow is passed over the field before rolling- In dry situations and during dry sea^K>n»^ Protective crop is des'irable, provided w j" it be barley or wheat-it be sown very thinly. LEEK. Begin to thin out the seellings when they are five or fj* ^gh, an<j af^er very slightly » e leaves, plant them with a dibbler from eight to nine inches apart, P as the base of the leaves in well-watered beds or trenches. Further thin- successional crops, a few TT**1 fl ,n^ to mature in the seed-bed. ,i i ?f occasionally, and water generv- arourd P^nts progress, draw dry earth ine oi t s^ems to blanch them. By pick- to •' • ^0W6r stems a» they commence hri]kiSe -i0 sPring. a supply of small leek 'os wjll be obtained in early summer. The products will be fit for use from September onWards; and when properly stewed there are few vegetables that compare with this in flavour and wholesomeness, none that ex- <'el it. Lift any roots not used by April, and lay in their roots in a cool position to pre- vent them running to seed. ONION. Select a day when the surface soil is almost dry, and sow in drills from six to twelve inches asunder, according to the vigour of the variety, one ounce of seed to three square yards. Cover with about half an inch of fine soil, tread lightly over the drills, touch the surface with a rake, and firm the bed down all over with the back of a spade, provided the soil be dry. Broadcast the seed of pick- ing onions thickly and evenly during April, and cover very shallowly. Hoe lightly be- tween the lines directly the seedlings are visible, and thin out the first time with a. narrow hoe. Further thinnings will provide delicate salading material, the planta being finally singled out at distances from four y six inches apart. Wate ris seldom though a good soaking of wea liquid *9 permissible curing the drougt. kKeep down weeds by using » jjroan hoe regularly between the rows. In weather, when the onion do not rjpem off well, bend the tops over at, the n^ck all in one direction. This has the effect-* fasten- ing the swelling and bulbs. Pickling onions do not r™mre t^maing. The larvae of the omion ny ^-oasionally totally destroy a crop their way in- to the oulbe. All ivfc-sted plants should be lifted with the surroundIng earth &nd burned j A good rotation ig the best method of pre- vention. Onion mildew is a dreaded disease in districts. The leaves begin to turn yellow about the time the plants commence to form bulbs; and in bad attacks the crop becomes one loathsome mass of putrescence. The only sure preventative with which we are acquainted is autumn-,sowing on land that is not infested, though deep trencMng is bene- ficial. Onion smut produces dark, irregular spots on the first leaves of seedlings, thus weakening, if -NOT actujally killing, them, The only effective means of prevention ap- pears to be drilling an ounce of sulphur and lime, mixed in equal proportions by weight, to a row of 50 feet with the seed. The crop is subject to several other serious troubles, but at present little is known regarding them. PEAS. Sow for the main supply from early March to the end of May one quart of seed to a row of 60ft. in drills two inches deep, allow- ing sufficient space between the rows to admit of growing early potatoes, cauliflowers, spin- ach, celery, etc. Sparrows are the most ach, celery, etc. Sparrows are the most troublesome enemies of this crop, and from the first appearance of the seedlings it is im- peratively necessary to protect them with strings, to which hanging rags, feathers, and pieces of tin are attached. Pea-guards, made by fixing wire netting on a framework of semi-circular wire hoops, are most useful for protecting sowings. Mice frequently de- molish early sowings before they have ger- minated A good preventive is to cover the seeds with a little soiil, and then with three inches of sharp sand. Another method con- sists of moistening the seed with sweet oil, and then covering it with red lead. Pea mildew causes serious destruction amongst late sowings, but no easily applied remedy has yet been discovered, though Bordeaux Mixture has in some cases given good re- sults. An occasional dusting of soot, while the foliage is damp with dew, tends to mini- mise the injury caused by pea weevils and other insect pests. Where the presence of weevils is suspected, subject seed-peas to a temperature of 143 degrees for an hour directly they are picked. POTATOES. A well-dralined, deep, and friable or even clays AREAMOJ+ BE&T" AND RETENTIVE LAND or Sari dS1hTZ^ble-, in autumn 8 DEEP!Y AS P ^IBLC in autumn, the under spits being broken un t\neirdieLu^tStald^rs- dIf MUR with autumn, excepting M the LAE of lipht ground, which must be dressed oulv in spring, the manure being laid in the treifahes before placing the sets in them. All kinds before placing the sets in them. All kinds of burnt vegetable refuse, road and ditch scrapings, soot, decayed leaves, etc., FORE ex- cellent fertilisers if placed in TRENCHER or lightly hoed in the surface where dribbling is practised. A dressing of artificial# is necessary, about 3cwts. of superphosphate. 2cwts. of guano, and iewt. of muriate of potash per acre being put in under, the sets. Select tubers of moderate size, weighing two or three ounces each, or-fal.iling THESE—divide larger ones into pieces. When planting, rub off all the shoots excepting one or two,short and stout ones. The rows should be about 15 to 20 inches apart for very early kisrfs, and about 24 to 30 for more robust-growing varieties, while the sets must be placed in the trenches at from 8 to 10 inches apart for early, and from 14 to 16 for later crops. The sets can either be dibbled in some ltis or MIM inches deep, or may be placed in trenches or furrows of like d pth., the earth being closed in on them. An open, sunny situation. is most essential for April plantings. If whole tubers are employed, it is well TO cut a small piece off the bottom of each to expedit its decay .after growth is fairly started. Hoe between the rows directly the shaws are visible, and cover them lightly with fin soil if frost appear imminent. Earthing up should be done when the ton* are about six inches high, the ridge of soil drawn up to the stems of the plants brine four to inches in height. TOOGOOD & SONS, Southampton.

SWANSEA Y.W.C.A. ADDRESSES BY MISS B. PORTER AND MISS GRENFELL. OF'TH! ??NUAL meeting of the Swansea Branch was K ^OMENS Christian Association in W I «N. THLIRSDAY «™NING in last week, ^OLY Trinity Schoolroom. From two to three hundred ladies filled the room. Miss Aate St. Leger Grenfell presided, and she supported by Miss B. Porter, Mr. R. G. Cawker (financial secretary), and Rev. H. J. Gibbs. The financial report showed that the receipts for the year were JC123 9S. $d., made up of subscriptions, jE13 7s.; and donations, £ 53 148. lid. The donations were the result of special efforts made to clear off a debt. They started with a clean balance-sheet, and three guineas to the good.—Miss Lough (su- perintendent) reported that 27 new members had been admitted. So many, however, left the town that they could not speak of an increase. Nor could they profess to be satis- fied with the progress made. They ought to be in touch with many more young women in the town.-Miss Grenfell extended a hearty welcome to Miss Porter who, she said, had started new branches of the Y.W.C.A. in Port Elizabeth, and other places in South Africa.-MillS Grenfell then gave an address on the text, "Consider the Lilies" (holding a fine arum lily in her hand as she spoke).— Miss Porter expressed her delight at being again in Swansea, and seeing so many facee -old and new. Dealing with the work in South Africa, she said on her arrival at Johannesburg, one of the things that struck her was that almost nothing of a religiotIB and philanthropic character was done Sr women, though a great deal was done for men. The number of men and women in South Africa was as 10 to 1. so tit was only natural that more thought SHOULD be given to the welfare of JOEN than of women. A branch had been started M Johannesburg but it had been shut up glyllce the war. She hoped it WOULD** open again soon, but there would H» 0R?ATO<LLFFIEULTIE8 in the way of religious W°RFF IA **>UTH Africa for some time to <*>»?• lSS Porter told of the Y.W.C.A WAS the means of estab- lishing VLM TL ) B*th. She had received \lett1fad SnC in Char* gating that ^N their TFCIRA year with £ 1^> Thia A thirty-seven guinea fvttPort P?-A ^RAN<I RESORT, considering 2E siae IF LLITABETH IE«9 than h*]F Y W P i 8tar 10 CaP* Town, where :he cost 'V Home is being established at » BEAN £ 1°.°00. of which £ 8,000 has already subscribed.—Hymn* were sung by a ch°ir of young ladies. B

BOliWICK'S BAKING POWDER. This is celebrated Manufacture has been well known for nearly 60 years. Whea ordering Baking Powder insist on having BorwicK's. Bí.wd p-:A Pastry FOR OASI: YOSKSHISS PUJXOXKOS GINGERIVO, & ■.

(VspjpigAt.) A BLAZE OF GLORY. By JOHN STRANGE WINTER, I Author of "Booties' Baby," "A Name to 1 Conjure With," "The Money Sense," 4'A Born Soldier," "Beautiful Jim," 4c. CHAPTER XXXI. IN A PLACE OF SAFETY. In an instant L'Estrange had sped across th" space of rough ground which divided him from the motionless figure in the khaki habit regard- less of the bullets which came whistling and screaming from the Boer position on the other side of the valley. He saw at a glance that the man who had been riding with her was done for, and that Betty herself was unconscious and was probably wounded also. There was no time to waste in thonght. Betty, if uncon- scious, was but a featherweight, and he lifted her from the ground as easily as he could have lifted a child of twelve years old. Then he began his journey back, a more difficult one anyway than his coming, because the ascent was steep and he wa* burdened. Still, he never flinched or faltered. In his heart there was no fear of the bullets which, now that they had perceived the fugitives, came whistling after them. He only felt a fierce, doeged determina- tion that he would get her into a place of safety or die in the attempt. Once ne stopped to take breath and cast an agonised glance at the kopje where his comrades were, as if asking them to keep the attention of the sharpshooters opposite occupied as much as possible so as to direct their shot from him. Then he held her yet closer and staggered on. It seemed as if he would never reach the point where the hillside would afford him shelter and enable him to get breath before he made the final effort to carry her up to the turn in the path whence he could carry her down to the Drift below. He knew now why the medical board had not parsed him as fit to go back to his regimental duty. He felt as if somebody had got hold of a piece of his right lung with a pair of red-ho: pincers and was tearing it out by main force. There was a sob in his throat and a blood-red uiist dancing before his eyes and—and—then everything gave way. and he toppled his precious burden into a pair of willing arms and himself dropped on to his knees with a sensation that h. was done fur. "Hold up, old chap," cried the voice of the owner of the arms. Then speaking to some- on.- else he added: "By Jove! They ve done for him. the brutes! Here, you feli. ws. get him to the top as quick as you can. I'll bring the !ady." What about the other fellow ? asked Piet van Beinthoven, who had come tearing down the hill &8 soon as he knew what had happened. "He's done for—dead," gasped L'Estrange. I made sure of that. They shot him clean between the shoulders." Where have they potted you, old fellow f 9 •sked Piet. My shoulder. Never mind me—get her into shelte;, L' Estrange replied, and then nature ¡ gave way and he collapsed in a heap on the rough jrass. By this time half a dozen others had come down from the entrenchment above and L'Estrange waa speedily lifted from the ground and carried at a brisk trot up the hill to the turn of the road and then down to the Drift. Aaltje was the iirut to come out of the house. What has happened P n she asked, her face blanched to the lips and her hands trembling visibly. "Nothing very serious," replied Gerhard van Beinthoven, quickly. "It's L'Estr&flge "N", no," cried the girl, in a tone of sharp pain. They've potted him in the shoulder, but it's not anything serious, I'm sure of that," and then he gave her a brief outline of what had taken place. "I'll fetch mother," she said, in a curious tone of exaltation. "Take him to the little aifting-room, Gerhard. He will be our care, of course. And the lady, is she wounded also ? "That we don't know. Probably she is. but '<he's alive, and a pretty young thing, no older m you are. Piet is bringing her down." Poor thing I I ihope we shall pull her > > rough. I wonder who she is and how she lone to be out on the veld alone." "She wasn't alone- Yes," he broke off, "take him to the little sitting-room. Have you sent for mother, Aaltje ? Yes, Gertrude went for her at once. So she wasn't alone ? "No, there was a man with her, but they've done for hirn. Well, doctor, any bad news r "The lady is simply fainting from fright and exhaustion. I don't think she got so I much as a scratch," the surgeon replied. Did they say L'Estrange was hurt ? Where is he ? "I'll take you. Aaltje, hadn't you better go and look after the young lady ? "Yes, I will. Come to me the moment yon know the worst." She turned away and went swiftly along the Bide of the house from whence the surgeon had come. She found a little party gathered together on the stoep; several women sur- rounded a recumbent figure in a khaki-coloured habit. As she drew near one of the womeu popped in her ministrations and looked at her. "She's coming to nicely, poor young lady," the remarked. Aaltje came a step nearer. In an instant she bad recognised the new-comer. "You are M«. Le Gendre P" she said, quietly. Yes. How did you know ?" looking at her with great wondering eves. How did I get here ? I saw no 8ign of a house, and the guns—oh, how terrified I was, and somehow I couldn't keep on any longer, and I seemed to be falling — falling — falling down endlessly. fie-Y did I get here ? "Some of the men up on the kopje saw you and carried you in," said Aaltje, in a hard, ltvel kind of voice. "I don't think you had belter try to talk much or to worry about any- thing. You are here, and you are safe for the present, as safe as we are ourselves, that is to -<KY." Betty Le Gendre shut her eyes and submitted to ha* her forehead bathed again. "Give her a little more brandy, not too atronv, and do yvu, Mrs. Friend, go and iwe if you cannot get a cup of good soup for her. I believe she is exhausted for want of food more than anything else." "I haven't had anything but some raw whisky since last night," said Betty, opening her eyes again. The Eng;ishwom»'] turned and went into the house without anot her word. "You mate be tired and hungry, eaij* Aaltje, gently. "But. be of good cheer. lou 51 re among friends who will soon feed you up well and see afier your oomfort. Betty murmured a word of thanks, then looked more closely at Aaltje. "I've seen you before, "fhe said. "You were on the ship ire came out with. were you not. ? "Yac YQI: are Mr-. Le Gendre ? said Aaltje. "Yee. Whn' Ls y.mr name ? Will you tell me where I iitn ? "To be suie. I am called Aaltje van Bein- thoven, and this is mv home, Beinthoven'a Drift." "We were muki'ii; for 1bjor Gavan." said Betty, hesitatingly. -k 1- Iv a nywhere near this, JO YOU KNAM } He 18 here. Ai l»*asi. he is up on the hi! •there, the kopje* we thecu. Aaltje replied. A vivid fiusc over Betty's pale face, aad jnst thee the kindly Englishwoman came tack carrying a cup 411 exceilledt IKJUp. f "Come, my dror,If tab, this you'll feel TOUTMlf quite » different Wing," she said. Miee Aahje, the doctor was JUGT IN^^G FOR you." Aalijf was gone ere the words had left the good woman's mouth, and tJetty Will. left alOZ:llt with Mrs. Friend, wno held the large cup of gleaming soup before her. "Now, MY dear, when you've had ,won, t the same. Oh, it's good. They -cook splendidly here, and everyone is to everything that then, i. "Tell me, said Betty, "are they Pntch nt Boer, or what ? It's a Dutch name, surely." Mr. van Beinthoven is a Dutch Afrikander. B<n they're all for the Englieh. "And is it true that Major Gavan is here "Of course. Ha in command of our men. My husband is a Colour-Sergeant of Majoi 'Sevan's regiment. He e up 0Jl the kopp though and won't be down till Captain Morris«vn p. np to relieve him." "Captain Morrison got his arm ripped up this morning. rem;.rked another woman with a baby in her iirnts, who was standing by. "Lor I You don't say so. l'd no idea of it When did it happen ? Is it n bad business Well, then, Jlajor Gav-m won't be down t;¡ Mr. Pau'.yn goe* up to take charge." "I must go up at once. I've a message f<> hirn." said Rc ty. You'd much better «tay where you are It.'a a good climb up to the kopjes. Won't i Jo when he comes oil" duty ? "No, no, there's not a moment to lose, I'n '{'lite strong now." Berty crL-d, struggling »j, from the big lmir. She reeled over as .sudden! %,4 if she hau been ;<hot, and sank back agait with a mc- *i af p-lin and dismay. "Oh, I mus Co. I m.i tee Major Gavan at once, at once. I t.'s for a, l'ght reason. Can't someone heij :ne up ? Wl.ere is my escort ? Dc y,m mean the soldier who was with VOL ",hen yon rode np P" "Yes, my escort, Private Nicholl." "Ah, my deM, I'm afraid he'll never escort vou or anyone else no more," said Mrs. friend, pitifully. Ii Why ? Ah, I remember, I saw him fall. Was he killed ? "Shot clean between the shoulders, poor tellow, so I heard them saying when they brought you in," Mrs. Friend replied. Betty uttered an exclamation of dismay. "Oh, is that so ? Poor young fellow, he was so good arid attentive to me after we got away. I should never have been here if he hadn't looked after me so well. But couldn't you help me to get up to Major Gavan ? I must see him. If I have to crawl on my hands and knees I must see him. I've messages for him from General Bruoe-.Tonea." "Have you, though? I'll go and find Mr. Paulyn. I saw him in the dining-room M I came through. He'll go up and send him down. I'm sure you'll never get up there; it's ever such a climb Then do go at once," cried Betty, im- patiently. "I'd go myself, only I'm so itiff f om the long ride. And I'm not used to riding. I hate horses. Ah, there's a good soult" Mr. Paulyn came to her at once. "You have messages for the Major, Mrs.—Mrs. "Le Gendre," said Betty. "And I don't think I could get up there—I'm so tired. Do you think Major Gavan could come down ? "I'm sure he will. I'll go up and tell him it once. Meantime, I must congratulate you on the near shave you had of being done for." "Yes, it was near," said Betty, gravely. "I think I must have tumbled off my horse just in time. I had several tumbles before—I got so urferly tired and that poor young fellow was so good and so encouraging. I can't tell you how good and helpful he was." "Well, poor chap, if he knew, he would be glad that he had brought you so far safely. Then I'll go right along and find the Major." He went off at a brisk trot on a hardy r that was standing tethered to the r -0, end of the stoep, and Betty was left once 111(;. to the ministrations of Mrs. Friend. Then onr or two other women came to interview the r, comer, asking many questions which Betty was chary of answering until she had seen the officer in command. And, at last, after what seemed an interminable time of waiting, he came—a big, steadfast, resolute man, soldier all over, anxious yet cool, eager yet self-con- trolled quick, alert, and devoid of fear. "I am Mrs. Le Gendre. My husband-" Betty began, when he interrupted her. "Yes, yes, I know. I have met your husband." We left Bloemsdorp ten days ago, six of us—my husband and I, and four troopers. He had wanted me to go down to Capetown, but I wouldn't, and they insisted on my leaving. < missed the train from Rheinskop by half- an-hour, so he decided that we had better ride, and we started, my husband only meaning to put me in the right track, and send my escort with me. Two days out, we came across a soldier dying on the veld—he had been shot in the throat, but had escaped. This man was the bearer of a very important despatch from General Bruce-Jones, which was to be sent to you, and from you to General Buller, if possible, without the delay of an hour. We stayed with him till he died- some eight or nine hours-and then we came on. We thought it was beat for me to carry the despatches, as, if we did fall into the hands of the Boers, they would not be likely to search me so thoroughly. So we came on. Twice we lost our way. We had no food left, no water—nothing but a little raw whisky,* shuddering at the remembrance of it. Yes, and then ? said the Major. "Then—well, we struck the path at last, and then we fell in with the Boers. There were about thirty of them, and they took us prisoners. I thought, of course, that it was all over with us, especially as I had the despatches with me; but my husband managed to persuade them that he was only a harmless sort of person who was taking his wife out of the country, and they finally consented to let me go with one trooper to escort me. My husband spoke to me quite loud before everyone, telling me that i was to trust to Private Nicholl, and to follow all the directions he had given me, and that when I got to Capetown I was to go to the banker there, who knew me, for money to go on with. And then he said good-bye, and they watched us go, pointing out the right way, and telling us to be careful when we came to Beinthoven's Drift. They really weren't half bad to us," she ended. for they gave me a pass for any Boers we might meet on the road- We did meet several small parties, wl«*. amined us very sharply but when they saw my pass for myself and my escort, they only swore at us and let us go on." "And,the despatches ? said the Major. "Ah, I have them safe. Do you know, I felt just a bit of a traitoress when they were so decent to me, and gave me a pass and every- thing. Major Gavan." she said, after bending down to undo her riding boot, "I can't undo my boot. Let that kind woman come and unlace it. I'm nearly dead with riding so far and so long." The Major called to Mrs. Friend, who was sitting at the other end of the stoep, and asked her to be good enough to help Mrs. Le Gendre off with her boots. Then Betty put her hand into the left one, and tore out the linen lining. "Here they are I" she said, handing a small long envelope to him. "How glad I am to think they have reached you safely The Major took them with a word of thanks, and scanned them eagerly with bent brows and set lips. ° 3 Gendre, he said, "you've done e biggest thing any woman ever did since Jael. You ought to get a decoration for this t on.f. won(^er y°u tumbled off your horse in a e faint after going through all you must have done. And I'm 8vlns you to hear that L Estrange isn't much worse for his gallant effort to bring you in-at least, so Paulyn tells me. "Estrange?" e,-ho,d Betty. "I don't understand, w liat. do you mean 9 L'Estrange was the first to 8p'ot your liabit and went oft atone down the side of the hill to warn you to get round by the left," Major Gavan replied. He enmed you back after your escort dropped, and lhNtlgh I. hot fire. By Heavens! It w one of the coolest", pluckiest things I ever saw done." But who is he ? "L'Estrange, of the White Horse. He got a shot in the shoulder while h> had you in his arms but I don't think he J1 be very tnuch the worse for it." Betty rose unsteadily to her fft-t. Do you mean to s-iy that Mr. L Estrange, of the White Horse, came to rescue me when all those bullets were screaming round, and— ™But there her words suddenly stopped. 8he sat down again in the big chair, aud quietly fainted away. CHAPTER XXXII. THB GVNAFIUIRR OF AAI-TJ* VAN BKISTHOVK*. The state of the district surrounding B«ia thoven's Drift WHS such that any idea0' U leaving the haven she had found was tro- who flrst day put. aside as an impossibility. 8bt was filled with compunction at having, 88 she put it, foisted herself upon them; but they would not hear a word upon that subject. K "Nay, my dear young lady, saidhpr hostess, JL will not listen to another word. We are all Brothers and sisters in misfortune and you may think yourself luck, that you came here, where tMre is provision and to spare. And you came out on the saint ship with my daughter and 1 Mr. L'Eetrange. That is enough, in these I times, to make a very close bond of friendship." Betty's pale face flushed a rosy pink at the mention of L'Estrange's name. I I. My husband told me to get down to Cape- town," she said, hesitatingly; "but if that is impossible It is out of the question," was the grave reply. We shall fry, in sending on the despatches that you brought, to convey the news of your saft-ty to your husband. They will know at headquarters where he is, and probably they can contrive to let him know that you are, so far, safe with us." "It will be very kind of you," said Betty, putting out a hand to her little hostess. "I know he will be dreadfully anxious about me. I—I shall never forget the look he gave me as I looked back and saw him surrounded by all those frouzy-looking Boers and he so helpless, like a caged lion. He's such a big man, my husband, and authoritative—he wouldn't have touched any one of those men with the end of a pitchfork But what could he do ? He was only one against so many. Well, there were the three soldiers, but it was only four against thirty, and, as my husband said, resistance was si'iiply murder, and nothing to be gained by it. But I know he is desperately anxious, even tll nigh I had the pass from the Boer com- mander. "Yes, he will be anxious, agreed she, "and we must do our best to let him know that you are safe. But, tell me, would you not like to see Mr. L'Estrange ? You wouldn't be here but for him." "Oh, yes." She did not notice that Mrs. Le Gendre blushed a yet rosier pink at the sugges- tion that she should see L'Estrange. "But is he up, or still in bed ? 0 "He is up to-day, and sitting out on the stoep on the other side of the house. You see, it was a Mauser bullet. It went clean through the fleshy part of the shoulder, just missing the collar-bone. 1 daresay it will be tedious, but there ii nothing to keep him in bed for, and he wanted to be up." She rose as she spoke and moved along the stoep. Betty followed her silently, her heart beating hard and fast in spite of herself. They traversed the entire stoep in this wise, coming at last to the shady cerner where L'Estrange was lying, looking ve y pale and wan in a long chair of wicker and bamboo. He tried to rise as he saw them approaching, but his watchful nurse was on the alert and called out to him that he must keep very still. "That is a distinct contravention of doctor's orders," she said, imperatively. "Here is Mrs. Le Gendre come to see you." "I'm so sorry you got. wounded for me," said Betty, taking his hand and looking at him with eyes full of pity. L'Estrange piniled. "I could not be wounded in a better cause," he said, with an effort to be very gallant. "It was an honour to be associated with a lady who has done such famous deeds. Do you know that when the news gets home you will be the most talked of woman in England ? "1 hope not. I haven't any desire to be," she said. "Ah, but you will be." "Nay, it is you who should be talked of for carrying me out of that hail of bullets." "No, no," laughing outright, "not a hail of bullets only a few." "It seems so to me," she said, simply, "and Major Onvan is going to recommend you for the V. C." "I hope not. I don't deserve it. I believe I was in a blue funk all the time. All the same, I didn't know that it was you until I got close up to you. Then-well, I determined I'd get you out dead or alive, somehow or other." And I thank you," she said, lifting her eyes to his. After this Betty soon fell into her place at the Drift, insisting, as soon as she had re- covered from the effecta of her long ride, on taking her full share of the women's work of the garrison, and carefully avoiding any especial intercourse or intimacy with L'Estrange. L'Estrange, after a week or so, was so well of his wound that he went back to his share of duty; and so the anxious days went by, one just like another, no change but when some casualty happened, with little or no news from the outer world, only indeed such as filtered through the Boer line3 by means of Kaffir boys who were devoted to the van Beinthoven family. Even that news was not really the latest intelli- gence, and it was hopeless and uninspiring in the extreme. News of vain efforts, blind advances, desperate fighting, retreats of whole regiments mown down like corn in autumn; of fresh troops pouring across the sea; of Generals weeping like children to see their best and bravest dropping on all hands of treachery both at home and in the ncid of hopes, doubts, and fears, but nothing of real progress. And until the army of the Great White Queen had come to the relief of gallant little Ladysmith, the less hardly-pressed garrison at Beinthoven's Drift could not hope for any kind of change. So the days pasaed by. At last the news came in that Mrs. Le Gendre was, as L'Estrange had predicted, the most talked of woman in England, perhaps, just then, in the world; that the despatches she had carried between the inner and outer soles of her riding-boot had been of paramount importance that L'Estrange was to have the V. C. for his share in the matter; and then that Colonel Le Gendre was a prisoner in the hands of the Boers, and had been sent together with the men who had been taken with him to 'Pretoria. Betty bore her honours meekly. I wish you wouldn't say any more about it," she said, piteously. "I hate war. I did nothing in the least heroic, and don't deserve any fuss being made about me. I didn't even start for Cape- town of my own free will. I hated going, for I was even more terrified riding along on that dreadful horse that made my back ache till it was fit to break, and nearly pulled my arms out of the sockets, than I was before. And then when I did get nearly here and I saw poor Nicholl drop off his horse like a stone I fainted from sheer fright. I'm very glad I got the despatches through, but there was no credit to me, I can assure you." "Well, well, we won't credit you with any of the glory," said Mr. van Beinthoven, with a huge, jolly laugh. We will make a great hero of our friend L'Estrange," bringing his hand down on L'Estrange's shoulder with a bang. L'Estrange looked up. "Excuse me,sir," he said, but I feel nothing of the hero about me I at this moment. That was the shoulder the bullet went through. "Oh, my dear, dear fellow, forgive me," Mr. van Beinthoven cried, in great contrition. Father cried Aaltje. The one word revealed to Betty in what relation Aaltje stood to L'Estrange, and a mistaken idea came to her that a marriage between the two was the only event on which anyone might bet with certainty. 8o she effaced herself as much as possible, and yet a few more days slipped by. Then there came news. It happened that Aaltje was sitting on the stoep resting after a hard day's work when Paul van Beinthoven and L'Estrange sought her. Aaltje, there is bad news," said Paul, "Ladyamith has fallen ? cried Aaltje. "No, but her hueband "-noddmg to where Betty usually sat—"has died of enteric at Pretoria." Are you sure ? "Perfectly sure, unfortunately," lie replied. "I've been asking L'Estrange "I really can't," said L'-Estrange, hurriedly. For a moment nobody spoke. Then Aaltje, with a set look of resolution on her fair face, got up from her lounging-chair. I will go and tell her," she said. L 'EKtrange stared after her as I!\e went *way, feeling that the look on her face would haunt. him to hie dying day for it was a look that the Man of Sorrows might have worn In the Garden of Gethsemane. I [TIUI END.

J Messrs. Sutton and Sons, of Reading, are sending, as a Ciroaation gift, a presentation box of both vegetable and flower ae«d« to each of the long line «f Uockhoueee erected by our MRFDIER^N *11 P«*- Roberta WMI Mr, BRODRIK ^RE eanctiongd the PTOPQWL, HAVE -^XJTTEN GRATEFULLY ACCEPTING? the preseat on behalf OF JJF** ohener and AMYII Afrfe*. GENERONS gift WILL BE XRE^TLY APPRECIATED the eoMiers» and it will do good I tOo inaugurate ImpronSUat i. THE crops in South Africa.

KATE GREENAWAY MEMORIAL. Each of the children of their Rojal High- nesae« the Prince and Princess of has su to this memorial. committee purpose to endow, in perpetuity, a cot at the ureat Ormond-street Hospital for children. Subscriptions can now be sent to the hon. treasurer, The Lee Manor, Great Missenden Buoks, Sir Wm. Agnew,, and Mr. Arthur a Beckett have joined the committee.

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Italy and Switzerland have broken off diplomatic relations. The immediate causo of the rupture was the refusal of the Italian Government to withdraw their Minister, whe had ceased to be a "persona grata" at Berne, but the dIfficulty ¡is said to HAVE been raised in the first instance by the Swiss Federal Council declining to prosecute an Anarchisl paper which printed some offensive remarks about the late King Humbert.