chance, and he was able to take it, and certainly by his tactics, by his coolness, by his perception at the proper moment, he had a great deal to do with the success of the day; and it was a great satisfaction to myself to be able with the brigade under my command to go and support him on a somewhat critical occasion.' He concluded his address by a humorous reference which pleased an audience of miners: to the effect that in the near future he hoped the line to Khartoum would be supplied with coal from the Niddrie pits! As the cavalcade proceeded, presentations of bouquets of flowers, wreaths of laurel, and other kindly greetings marked the General's way. At the entrance-hall of Niddrie Marischal, Mr. Thomas Skirving of Niddrie Mains, on behalf of himself and the tenantry, presented an address of welcome. This was feelingly replied to by the General in a few well-chosen words, concluding as follows:--'No Roman emperor coming from a victorious campaign could have been half so well received as I to-day have been, and as long as I live I can never forget it. If there is one thing that makes a man nerve himself to accomplish a difficult task, it is the thought that he is thought well of by the people in the midst of whom he lives. I cannot tell you all I feel--I should be more than human if I could.' It may here be mentioned that General Wauchope brought home with him one of the Khalifa's banners which had been given to him by General Macdonald as a memento of his timely assistance at the battle of Omdurman. It is of white damur cotton, with a line of Arabic in blue across its face inscribed, 'Mohammed Ahmed el Mahdi Kalifat er Rasul.' On a gold band on the staff is the inscription, 'September 1898. They were brave {161} foemen, these Dervishes.' This and other trophies now find a resting-place in Niddrie Marischal. A time of busy activity in metropolitan and county affairs followed General Wauchope's return home, and his high place as a public man was now universally recognised. His services were largely in request specially in connection with public and social functions of various kinds,--opening of bazaars of ladies' work, inspecting boys' brigades, presiding at lectures and concerts, school board work, county council work, and his duties as an elder of the Church of Scotland--these all engrossed much of his attention and a large share of his time during the winter and spring following his return from the Soudan. [Sidenote: At Windsor Castle]