" It was rather trying
for a midshipman.
'Everybody was delighted with Prince Alfred, and even the President of
the Transvaal Republic called him "Our Prince." For his progress through
the country, I had a beautiful wagon made. At the close of the tour
Prince Alfred gave it, a friendly gift, to the Transvaal President. You
can understand how it would be regarded by him, even be useful. Moreover
it was calculated, while only a wagon, to impress the burghers of the
Transvaal with the greatness of England. A simple pastoral people, they
could not themselves have begot such a vehicle and team.'
Prince Alfred confided to Sir George Grey, with boyish certainty, that he
never wanted to succeed to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg. He wouldn't have it.
'I have been all over the place,' exclaimed the dashing young sailor,
'and, believe me, it hasn't a pond on which you could sail a punt.'
XVI THE FAR-FLUNG BATTLE-LINE
A captain of the sea most proves himself that when it storms, and so a
captain of empire.
The danger signal was flying again in New Zealand, and Sir George Grey
must needs be asked to get it down. Hardly had he been keel-hauled for
his doings in one colony, when another required him. He must have been
uncertain whether to despair or smile.
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