Other changes and new appointments in the higher ranks of the Army were made about this same time. From India General Hector Macdonald was summoned to lead the Highland Brigade. He was an officer of extreme popularity and with a remarkable history, which proves that in the British Army, as in the hosts of Napoleon, "a career is open to talent." Beginning life as a draper's assistant, he enlisted in the ranks. Under Lord Roberts in Afghanistan he rose like a rocket, winning by superb bravery step after step--corporal, sergeant, colour-sergeant, and lieutenant in quick succession. He fought at Majuba, where his splendid courage led the Boers to spare his life. With the Gordons he held the kopje on the western face of the mountain to the very last, and all but two of his men were killed or wounded. He was one of the distinguished group of officers who, as time went on, found employment in the Egyptian Army, where his great military aptitudes were given full scope. He shared in all the Sirdar's victories, and at Omdurman, in command of the First Egyptian Brigade, showed admirable generalship, contributing in no small degree to that great success. [Illustration: LORD ROBERTS AND HIS CHIEF-OF-STAFF, LORD KITCHENER. This photograph was taken at Cape Town, when the two generals were on the way to inspect the City Imperial Volunteers.] [Illustration: GENERAL HECTOR MACDONALD AND HIS FORMER SUPERIOR. On his way to the Modder River, General Hector Macdonald encountered Col. Macbean of the 1st Gordon Highlanders, under whom he had served as Colour-Sergeant of the 92nd, when Macbean was Captain of the same Company.] [Sidenote: Offers of the Colonies.] [Sidenote: DEC. 1899.] _Magnificent Offers of the Australasian Colonies._]