This respect for meal-times is charming, and greatly facilitates life in the field.
It is a pity the attention of the Powers is not called to this subject by an international convention! Many affections of the stomach would be hereby avoided.
Encouraged by the example of their big brothers, the little 12 and 15-pounder Krupps and Armstrongs join in the concert.
The English have five, and we have four. It is delightful, and one can't complain of a single second of boredom.
On Friday, the Colonel's request is still unanswered.
'Wait a little while!'
Sternberg has had enough of it. Recognising the impossibility of persuading Du Toit to take decisive action, he starts off to Jacobsdal, where the English make him a prisoner. He was a great loss, for he had an extraordinary repertory of adventures, which he told in a very amusing manner, and, besides, he was a capital cook.
The 'boys' in these regions, greatly inferior to those of the Soudan in this respect, claim to be cooks as soon as they know how to light a fire. Accordingly, we prepare our meals ourselves. Tinned meat, a bit of roast mutton, or a stew, are the usual dishes.
The Colonel eats very little, and only takes grilled meat; he drinks tea or milk, and never touches wine or spirits. He does not smoke. He is a striking contrast to the rest of us, who eat like ogres, drink like sponges, and smoke like engines!
Our contingent, consisting of Breda, Léon, Michel, Coste, my friend De C---- and I, remain with Villebois.