It was really high time that the war should come to a speedy end. The knowledge that this end was close at hand had sadly relaxed discipline. The stirring events of war had left a craving for excitement not easily satisfied. Life had been so freely exposed, that it was looked upon as of very hazardous value. Men were ready to give or take it on the most trivial pretexts. I have seen a party of my own men firing at one another, at long distances, from behind rocks, merely to find out the range of their Minie rifles. At other times I have known them throw assegais at one another for the same purpose, and more than once inflict dangerous wounds. I naturally had more difficulty in keeping my men in order than other officers experienced in that part of the colony. My men were a rougher lot, and had only enlisted for a war that they now considered finished: Lieut. H---- had resigned; Lieut. ---- had been sent about his business; Lieut. P---- was often as riotous as the men; Lieut. C---- was too young and reckless to possess the tact and persistent energy necessary for the management of so unruly a set with security to himself or satisfaction to them. CHAPTER XI. RETURN OF GENERAL CATHCART FROM BASUTOLAND--END OF THE WAR--SPORTING ADVENTURES--LOVING TORTOISES--EVENING REVERIES--A SUDDEN ATTACK FROM AN UNKNOWN ENEMY--PLANS FOR HIS CAPTURE--UNSUCCESSFUL--ANOTHER ATTEMPT--NIGHT VIGILS--CLOSE QUARTERS--DEATH OF THE LEOPARD--WILD-BOAR HUNTING--BABOONS--MY PACK OF HOUNDS--THEY ARE ATTACKED BY BABOONS--POOR DASH’S FATE--SNAKES. General Cathcart now returned from his Basutoland expedition, where British soldiers proved once more their many sterling qualities. I shall not, however, attempt to describe the work done, for I had no actual share in it. The war now, so far as active operations were concerned, had virtually come to an end; my own occupation was gone. “Grim-visaged war had smoothed his wrinkled front,” as humpbacked Richard said, and I began to seek for excitement in a quarter which had always possessed attractions for me.