self and his brother…inlaw； Ingram； who had been sent back to try to bring help from the column。 All that tale I have told in the “Red True Story Book” （Longmans）； so I need not repeat it here。 I shall never forget Burnham’s account of how he tracked the missing men in the darkness； by feeling the spoor with his fingers and by smell； or of how； still in the darkness； he counted the Matabele impi as they passed him close enough to touch them。
Subsequently Burnham took service as a scout under our flag in the Boer War。 Indeed I believe that Lord Roberts cabled to him in the Klondike。 Here many things befell him。 Thus he was out scouting from Headquarters at the time of the Sannah’s Post affair； saw the Boers post their ambuscade； saw the British walking into the trap。 He rode to a hill and； with a large red pocket…handkerchief which he always carried； tried to signal to them to keep back。 But nobody would take the slightest notice of his signals。 Even the Boers were puzzled by so barefaced a performance； and for quite a long while did not interfere with him。 So the catastrophe occurred — because it was nobody’s business to take notice of Burnham’s signals！ Ultimately some Boers rode out and made him a prisoner。 They led him to a stone…walled cattle kraal where a number of them were ensconced； whence he saw everything。
When the British were snared a Boer lad took some sighting shots at them； and at length said laconically； “Sechzen hondert！” whereon the Boers sighted their rifles to that range and began to use them with deadly effect。 A whole battery of English guns opened fire upon this kraal。 The air screamed with shells。 Some fell short and exploded against the wall； some went high； some hit upon the top of the wall。 The result of that terrific bombardment was — one horse blown to bits。 The practice was not bad； but those behind the fortable。
When everything was over Burnham was taken off as a prisoner。 A change of guard enabled him to pretend a wound； so he was placed on an ox…waggon。 He sat on the fore…part of the waggon； and just before day the guards nodding in their saddles gave him the chance to drop down between the wheels； letting the waggon trek away over him。 Then he rolled himself into a little gully near the road； and； as he dared not stand up； lay cooking there during the whole of the following day with the fierce sun beating on his back。 When night came again he walked back to the English camp； a distance of nearly a hundred miles； and reported himself。
This exploit was equalled； if not surpassed； by one of my sons…inlaw； Major Reginald Cheyne of the Indian Army。 He was posted on a ridge with a few men in one of the affairs of this war when an overwhelming force of Boers opened fire on them。 He held out until all but two of those with him were dead or wounded and the ammunition — even of the wounded — exhausted。 Then； having been shot through the face behind the nose； in another part of the head； and also cut by a bullet all along the forehead； which caused the blood to flow down into his eyes and blind him； he surrendered。 He was taken prisoner； and in this dreadful state carried off in a waggon。 At night he pretended that it was necessary for him to retire。 The Boer guard showed him his revolver； which he tapped significantly。 Cheyne nodded and； taking his risks； made a bolt for it。 In due course he； too； staggered into the British camp； where he recovered。 I hope I have given the details right； but Cheyne； like Burnham； is not given to talking of such things。 It was only after much urging on the part of my daughter that he told me the story； of which I had heard rumours from a brother officer； who spoke of him as “a hero。” He was remended； together with his Colonel； for a V。C。 or a D。S。O。 — I forget which — but； unfortunately for him； the Boers captured and burnt the despatch； so that nothing was known at home of his services until too late。 However； they made him a brevet…major。 Such are the fortunes of war。
After Pretoria was occupied Burnham was sent out to cut the railway line by which the Boers were retreating。 He exploded part of his gun…cotton and destroyed the line； and then rode over a ridge — straight into a Boer bivouac！ He turned his horse and； lying flat on the saddle； galloped off under a heavy fire。 He thought he was safe； but the Boers had got his range against the skyline — it was night — and suddenly he remembered no more。 When he came to himself the sun was shining； and he lay alone upon the veld。 The horse was gone； where to he never learned。 He felt himself all over and found that he had no wound； also that he was injured internally； probably owing to the horse falling on him when it was struck by a bullet。 Near by was a little cattle or goat kraal； into which he crept and lay down。 From this kraal he saw the Boers e and mend the line。 When night fell again he crawled upon his hands and knees — he could not walk — down to the line and destroyed it afresh； for his gun…cotton cartridges remained in a bag upon his shoulders。 I am not certain whether he did this once or twice。 At any rate in the end； feeling that he was a dead man if he remained where he was； he tore up the bag； tied the sacking round his wrists and knees； and； thus protected against the stones and grass stumps； dragged himself out into the veld； where； by the mercy of Providence； an English patrol found him。 It turned out that his stomach had been ruptured； and that； had it not been for his long abstinence from food； he must have expired。 No treatment could possibly have been better for him； and as it was the break in the tissues found time to heal。 In the end he recovered； though that was the last service which he did in South Africa。 It was rewarded with a D。S。O。 and the rank of major in the British Army。 Lord Roberts gave him a remarkable letter of thanks and appreciation： it sets forth his admiration of Burnham’s skill； endurance and ability in difficult scouting inside the lines of the enemy。
Burnham told me that during that war on many occasions he passed through the sentries of both the British and the Boer forces without being seen。 Once he perated into a Boer camp and came to a waggon where a fat old Dutchman lay snoring。 To the trek…tow were tied sixteen beautiful black oxen； no doubt that Dutchman’s especial pride。 With his knife he cut them loose and drove them away back into the British lines。 Often； he told me； he had speculated as to what the old Boer said when he woke up and found them gone for ever。 On another occasion when he was scouting he was absolutely surrounded by the Boers and could find no cover in which to hide。 With the help of an old Kaffir blanket and a stick he made himself up as a beggar and limped away between them without even being questioned。
In all such matters he seems to possess a kind of sixth sense； evolved no doubt in the course of his long training in Indian warfare。 He was one of the pioneers in the Klondike； whither he travelled across the winter snows on a sledge drawn by dogs； which for some weeks were his sole panions。 These dogs he watched very closely； and as a result of his observations informed me that he was sure from their conduct at night that they possessed some elementary instinct of prayer。 His reasons are too long to set out； but they were very striking。
In Rhodesia he discovered a large amount of treasure buried in one of the prehistoric ruins and old forts； with the skeletons of unknown ancients。 I have a gold bead from it which he gave me； mounted as a pin； also some iron arrow…heads which he found amidst the bones； showing that these men died in an attack by enemies。
Such are a few of the incidents of Major Burnham’s career。 The reader might judge from them that he is a rough and uncultured man； but this is far from being the case。 Like old Allan Quatermain； he is an extremely polished and thoughtful person； and one with an extraordinarily wide outlook on affairs in general。 I remember； for instance； that he took a most lively interest in parish councils； their constitution and business。 This； after all the vast issues of life and death in which he had been engaged for many years； struck me as strange — though； as we know； elephants are adepts at the picking up of pins。
When I was missioner in America in 1905 I stayed with the Burnhams at their charming house in Pasadena； Los Angeles。 After I parted from them I travelled with another remarkable man； Mr。 Hays Hammond — who was once condemned to death with Jameson at Pretoria — across America in his private car； and spoke with him of Burnham。 Also I told him the strange tale of a certain odd gentleman of the name of Carmichael； now I believe long dead； who thought that he had discovered the secret of the hidden city of the Aztecs； that lies somewhere at the back of Chiapas； in which treasure to the value of three million sterling is supposed to have been concealed by Montezuma on the approach of the Spaniards。27 Thinking； from the documentary evidence； that there was something in this tale； a friend and I furnished Carmichael with a moderate sum of money to enable him to locate the place。 He set out； and after incredible hardships found the wrong city； or the wrong part of the right city； where his Indian carriers deserted him； leaving him suffering from fever to support life upon catfish； which he caught with a bent nail。 Ultimately he was rescued and brought back to civilisation。
26 This was the sacred treasure held by Montezuma as High Priest； which it took 1500 men to carry in bars of gold。 It must not be mixed up with the private royal treasure whereof I have already spoken； that was buried by Guatemoc — also to save it from the Spaniards。 — H。 R。 H。
Hays Hammond was so taken with this exciting narrative that he determined to send Burnham to look for the Aztec city； and telegraphed to him to e from San Francisco to New York to see him。 Needless to say； Burnham was quite ready for the adventure； and followed me to England to get particulars； among other business。 Whilst here a terrible thing befell him。 He had taken a little villa on the Thames； where he was living with his wife and a fine little boy； the brother of the child Nada。 One day the boy was missing。 His body was found in the