wriggled to the
river to get a drink, but in his feebleness fell in; was caught by the
branch of a tree, and for more hours than seem credible thus hung,
half in the water, half out, before he rallied sufficient strength to
crawl out and up the bank. For five days he thus remained without
food, and his festering wound unbandaged. On the Friday, when Lord
Roberts offered to exchange six wounded prisoners, the Boers espied
at last this useful hostage, took him to their laager, put a rough
bandage round his thigh, and sent him into the British camp. He was
still alive, full of hope, when Wynberg Hospital was reached, and
responsive to all Mr Jenkin said concerning the mercy of God in
Christ; but the long delay in dealing with his case rendered an
operation necessary. There was no strength left with which to rally--a
sudden collapse, and he was gone to meet his God. Fifteen days after
he fell he was laid to rest, with full military honours, in the
Wesleyan Cemetery at Wynberg. It is well that all fatal cases are not
of that fearful type!

Whilst the Guards were making their way to the Transvaal, the Rev. W.
Meara, a refugee Wesleyan minister from Barberton, was doing
altogether excellent work among the troops at East London; and has
since gone back to Barberton as officiating clergyman to the troops
there, where later on in 1902 I had the opportunity of personally
noting what his zeal hath accomplished for our men.

[Sidenote: _A pleasant surprise._]

Concerning his army work while away from Barberton, Mr Meara sent me
the following satisfactory report:--

"During the early part of my chaplaincy there were large numbers
of men in camp, and we held open-air services with blessed
results. The services were largely attended and much appreciated.
We then established a temporary Soldiers' Home; and after a
fortnight the Scripture Reader of the Northumberland Fusiliers
handed me over the responsibility, as he was proceeding with his
regiment to the front. The Home was on the camp ground, and so
was within easy reach of the men, who availed themselves fully of
its advantages. We provided mineral waters at cost prices, and
eatables, tobacco, etc., and for some weeks when there was a
great rush of men in camp upwards of L120 a week was taken. We
supplied ink, pens, notepaper, etc., free, and we had all kinds
of papers in the Reading Room. We agreed that any profit