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he had to do anythingand I had to sit down and tell them。 I wonder with intelligence like theirs that their Intelligence Department did not tell them the Boers fought with war clubs and spears。 I bought a ripping pony and my plan is to cut away from all my magnificent equipment and try to overtake Buller before he reaches Ladysmith and send back for the heavy things later。 It is just a question of minutes really and it seems hard to have come 1500 miles and then to miss it by an hour I arrive at Chievely tomorrow at fivethat is only ten miles from where Buller is to night； so were it not for their dd regulations I could ride across country and join them by midday but I bet they won't let me and I also bet I'll get there in time。 Of course you'll； know before you see this。 Marelsburg is the capital and its chief industry is rickshaw's pulled by wild Kaffi's； with beads and snake skins around them and holes in their ears into which they stick segars and horn spoons for dipping snuff。 The women wear less than the men and have their hair done up in red fungus。
Well； love to you all； to Nora and Dad and Chas； and God bless you。
DICK。
1900。 DEAR DEAR MOTHER：
I am here at last and counting the days when I shall get away。 War does not soothe my savage breast。 I find I want Cecil； and Jaggers； and Macklin to write； and plays to rehearse。 Without Cecil bored to death at Cape Town； I would not mind it at all。 I know how to be comfortable and on my second day I beat all these men who have been here three months in getting my news on the wire。 For I am a news man now； and have to collect horrid facts and hosts of casualties and to find out whether it was the Dubblins or the Durbans that did it and what it was they did。 I was in terrible fear that I would be too late to see the relief of Ladysmith but I was well in time and saw a fight the first few hours I arrived。 It is terribly big and overwhelming like eighty of Barnum circuses all going at once in eighty rings and very hard to understand the geography。 The Tugela is like a snake and crosses itself every three feet so that you never know whether you have crossed it yourself or not。 Every one is most kind and I am as comfortable as can be。 Indeed I like my tent so much that I am going to take it to Marion。 It has windows in it and the most amusing trap doors and pockets in the walls and clothes lines and hooks and ventilators It is colored a lovely green I have also two chairs that fold up and a table that does nothing else and a bed and two lanterns； 3 ponies； one a Boer pony I bought for 12。 from a Tommy who had stolen it。 I had to pay 125 each for the other two and one had a sore back and the other gets lost in my saddle。 But war as these people do it bores one to destruction。 They are terribly dull souls。 They cannot give an order intelligently。 The real test of a soldier is the way he gives an order。 I heard a Colonel with eight ribbons for eight campaigns scold a private for five minutes because he could not see a signal flag； and no one else could。 It is not becoming that a Colonel should scold for five minutes。 Friday they charged a hill with one of their 〃frontal〃 attacks and lost three Colonels and 500 men。 In the morningit was a night attackwhen the roll was called only five officers answered。 The proper number is 24。 A Captain now commands the regiment。 It is sheer straight waste of life through dogged stupidity。 I haven't seen a Boer yet except some poor devils of prisoners but you can see every English who is on a hill。 They walk along the skyline like ships on the horizon。 It must be said for them that it is the most awful country to attack in the world。 It is impossible to give any idea of its difficulties。 However I can tell you that when I get back to the center of civilization。 Do you know I haven't heard from you since I left New York on the St。 Louis。 All your letters to London went astray。 What lots you will have to tell me but don't let Charley worry。 I won't talk about the war this time。 I never want to hear of it again。
DICK。
LADYSMITH。 March 1st； 1899。 DEAR CHAS：
This is just a line to say I got in here with the first after a gallop of twelve miles。 Keep this for me and the envelope。 With my love and best wishes
DICK。
LADYSMITH； March 3； 1900。 DEAR MOTHER：
The column came into town today； 2200 men； guns； cavalry； ambulances； lancers； navy guns and oxen。 It was a most cruel assault upon one's feelings。 The garrison lined the streets as a saluting guard of honor but only one regiment could stand it and the others all sat down on the curb only rising to cheer the head of each new regiment。 They are yellow with fever； their teeth protruding and the skin drawn tight over their skeletons。 The incoming army had had fourteen days hard fighting at the end of three months campaigning but were robust and tanned ragged and caked with mud。 As they came in they cheered and the garrison tried to cheer back but it was like a whisper。
Winston Churchill and I stood in front of Gen。 White and cried for an hour。 For the time you forgot Boers and the cause； or the lack of cause of it all； and saw only the side of it that was before you； the starving garrison relieved by men who had lost almost one out of every three in trying to help them。 I was rather too previous in getting in and like every…one else who came from outside gave away everything I had so that now I'm as badly off as the rest of them。 Yesterday my rations for the day were four biscuits and an ounce of coffee and of tea； with corn which they call mealies which I could not eat but which saved my horse's life。 He is a Boer pony I bought from a Tommy for two pounds ten and he's worth both of the other two for which I paid 125 a piece。 Tomorrow the wagon carrying my supplies will be in and I can get millions of things。 It almost apalls me to think how many。 Especially clean clothes。 I've slept in these for four days。 I got off some stories which I hope will read well。 I can't complain now that I saw the raising of this siege。 But I hope we don't stay still。 I want to see a lot quickly and get out。 This is very safe warfare。 You sit on a hill and the army does the rest。 My sciatica is not troubling me at all。 Love to you all and God bless you。
DICK。
LADYSMITH； March 4th； 1900。 DEAR； DEAR MOTHER：
Today I got the first letter I have had from you since we left home。 It was such happiness to see your dear sweet handwriting again。 It was just like seeing you for a glimpse； or hearing you speak。 I am so hungry for news of Nora and Chas and you all。 I know you've written； but the letters have missed somehow。 I sent yours right back to Cecil who is very lonely at present。 Somerset has gone to the front and JimhomeBlessed word！ A little middy rode up to me today and began by saying 〃I'm going home。 I'm ORDERED there。 Home To England！〃 He seemed to think I would not understand。 He prattled on like a child saying what luck he had had； that he had been besieged in Ladysmith and seen lots of fighting and would get a medal and all the while he was 〃just a middy。〃 〃But isn't it awful to think of our chaps that we