58 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

defeat at Maiwand caused a renewal of the war, his ofler to become special correspondent for the Standard was accepted, and he was directed to join the column which, under General Phayre, was preparing to march to the relief of Candahar. Seven days after leaving Bombay he reached Quettah, for he travelled night and day, and rode up the Bolan Pass from Sibi in thirty-six hours. He was the first to ride with the news of General Roberts' victory to the nearest telegraph post, which he reached a day and a half before his competitors and the government couriers, and was back at Candahar in time to accompany the first party which went out to the battle-field of Maiwand, whence he sent home a description of the scene and of the fighting which established his reputation for literary ability as well as for enterprise.

Not long after his return to Bombay the Boer insurrection broke out, and he at once crossed to Natal, where he arrived before any of the correspondents sent from England could reach the spot.

He was present at the battles of Laing's Nek, Ingogo, and the calamitous fight at Majuba Hill, where he was knocked down and taken prisoner by the Boers, but on the following day contrived to send off a message with a famous description of the battle. He returned to England on the conclusion of the war, but directly news arrived of the riots in Alexandria he set out for Egypt and was on board the admiral's flag-ship hwhicible at the bombardment of Alexandria, continuing with the British forces, witnessing and describing every engagement until the occupation of Cairo. Cameron was one of those men who get tired of what to most people would seem absolutely needful rest, and never seemed quite to realize the energy and ability with which he did his work. In reply to expressions recognizing his success, he would say, " I did my best," and so far from assuming any merit he frequently appeared to be under the impression that he might have given greater satisfaction. At anyrate he was eager for work, and left Cairo for Madagascar, where he soon perceived, and in a series of excellent letters described, the state of affairs consequent on French interference. It was uncertain, however, whether there would be any fighting, and he therefore crossed the Pacific to Melbourne,