hile he was enjoying these expeditions as relaxation from
the cramping work of office, he was at the same time picking up
valuable information concerning the enemy. During this grind at the
office B.-P. used to long for the lunch hour; "it sounds greedy," he
says, "but it is for the glimpse of sunlight that I look forward,
_not_ the lunch." On one occasion his work as Chief of the Staff was
so severe that he was unable to leave the office for four days. He was
feeling "over-boiled," and got rid of this stuffiness of mind in his
own characteristic way. After dinner on the fourth day he saddled up
and rode off to the Matopos, spent the night there, and was back in
the office by 10.30 on the following day, "all the better for a night
out."

All this time the office work increased, and the anxiety of the
General and his staff was doubled by reports of rebellion in
Mashonaland. The fire of lawlessness was spreading its evil flames in
all directions, till reports of murder and outrage covered an area of
one hundred thousand square miles, and about 2000 whites found arrayed
against them an army of some 20,000 maddened savages.

Fortunately for B.-P. he had in Sir Frederick Carrington a chief who
never wastes a man. Excellent as Baden-Powell was in the office (and
Tim Linkinwater would not have feared, I believe, to hand the precious
Cherryble ledgers over to his keeping) he could render much more
valuable service in the field. In the middle of July the reward came
for all his independent scouting; he was chosen by Sir Frederick
Carrington, as a man who knew the Matopos country and the whereabouts
of the enemy, to act as guide to Colonel Plumer--the officer chosen
for the immediate direction of operations in the Matopos. With joy
B.-P. flung down the pen and took up the sword.

His first move was towards Babyan's stronghold, Babyan being one of
the great Matabele chiefs--a chief great in the glorious days of
Lobengula--and who now occupied the central and important impi in the
Matopos. This work was well done, the enemy's exact whereabouts were
ascertained, and the scouting ended in a glorious gallop back to camp
after emptying a few guns into a party of savages attempting to cut
off Baden-Powell's party. After this came battle.

In the moonlight of the 19th July the little force, nearly a thousand
strong, moved out into the Matopos, Baden-Powell going on alone as
guide. He went alone because he feared to have his attention