The next day we proceeded to Mr Judd’s farm, some ten miles farther on the road. Here I had an opportunity of showing what the Minie rifle could perform. We were sitting under the veranda of Mr Judd’s house examining one of the men’s rifles, and I was explaining the advantage of a rapid twist with an elongated bullet having an expansive base, &c. Mr Judd asked if it would reach some bullocks which were grazing five or six hundred yards off, adding that I might try if I liked, for the cattle were his. To this I consented; and laying the rifle on the balcony as a rest, I singled out a bullock to his attention--fired. I had the satisfaction that, either from the whistling of the ball or from being actually struck, the mark had been attained, for the animal immediately started off at a trot. All doubts, however, soon came to an end; for the poor brute lay down, and before we could reach the spot, had died,--the ball had passed through its body. This, no doubt, was a great fluke; but it had the good result of proving the value of the weapon to the men (a great many were looking on while I fired), and also leading them to suppose I was a first-rate shot. At this farm I also had the satisfaction of getting rid of Happy Jack. I afforded him the opportunity of deserting during the night, which he availed himself of; and I took particular care not to have him awakened the next morning as we departed, although I knew he was lying drunk in a cattle-kraal a short way off. Waine became much more humble after Jack’s desertion, and before we reached Graham’s Town had been restored to the ranks. So all fear of my being called up before a court-martial for flogging a man with an illegal instrument--which his belt undoubtedly was--soon disappeared. We made a great sensation on our entrance into Graham’s Town: the gun-carriages, wrapped up in hay to prevent any ill effects from the heat of the sun, might be readily taken for real artillery. The men--mostly seafaring people, with big rounded shoulders, bronzed faces, and long hirsute appendages--might, for size and determination of look, compare advantageously with any troops in the colony. They also wore leather helmets somewhat similar to those now adopted in the service, which added considerably to their martial appearance; and altogether they presented to the beholder (who knew nothing of their bolting proclivities, as lately displayed in the Ada bush) a most formidable accession to her Majesty’s forces at the Cape. It may not be out of place to give a slight outline of the officers who commanded my detachment. My first lieutenant, ----, a near relative of Lord ----’s, was a tall, handsome fellow, who had been in her Majesty’s service, of rather loose habits; not wanting in pluck, but fonder of excitement over the card-table than in the field.