imalaya_, Captain Bruen, and left London at the end of
1899, once again bound for Australia and returning to my old command in
Adelaide. This was my third voyage to the other end of the world. It was,
as usual, full of pleasant memories. Once again I was elected president
of the sports and amusement committee. With a good ship, a good captain,
a full passenger list, the hearty co-operation of all, and right good
weather, it was almost a record passage for comfort and enjoyment. Up to
schedule time we arrived at Albany in Western Australia.

I went ashore to call upon some of my old friends, bought an evening
paper, and went into the club. Whilst enjoying a pipe I glanced at one of
the headings: "Death of Colonel King-Harman, Military Adviser and
Inspector of Warlike Stores in London for the Australian Colonies." You
may remember that he had been appointed as a result of my visit home in
1889. He was an old Gunner friend of mine, and I had seen a good deal of
him before I left London. Only the day before my departure he had written
me a note to say that he was sorry he had taken a severe chill and would
be unable to come and see me off the next evening. Poor Harman never
recovered from that chill. It was something more serious that carried him
off in five weeks.

The possibility of my succeeding him temporarily struck me. What a chance
to return home to my sick wife at once! It was the opportunity of a
lifetime. A convention of delegates from all the colonies was at the time
sitting in Melbourne. Every Premier was attending the convention. I
hastened to the post office and wired to my old friend, Charles Cameron
Kingston, still South Australia's Premier, notifying him of King-Harman's
death, and asking him to arrange with the other Premiers to postpone the
appointment of King-Harman's successor until the _Himalaya_ reached
Melbourne, requesting permission at the same time to continue my journey
in her to Melbourne, instead of landing at Adelaide. Our steamer sailed
from Albany before I could receive an answer, so I also asked him to wire
to me at Adelaide. I felt somehow that another streak of good fortune was
coming my way. Sure enough, on arrival at Adelaide, a telegram awaited me
from Kingston, instructing me to proceed to Melbourne.

On arrival at Melbourne I at once went to Parliament House to see him,
and told him of my wife's severe illness, which had compelled her to
remain with the children in England, and I as