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2.

long experience he had by the merest chance escaped being with Gordon at
Kartoum. In the pages of A History of the War will be found an
account of his command of those astonishing veterans the Company
of the Marjolaine. While they were waiting young Walter's great
friend, Andrew Jameson was peering through a Space left by a
Gap in the Curtain over the library window and which two elderly
gentlemen seated within deep in conversation. The one, Mr Standfast,
the tutor a Scholar Gypsy reduced to sedentary occupations by
chronic rheumatism, the other, affectionately known as Prester
John, the Chaplain. "What are they talking about?" asked Andrew.
"Probably Some Eighteenth Century Byways or the Taxation of Foreign
Income", replied his friend, "because if it had been the respective
merits of the Marquis of Montrose and Oliver Cromwell we should
have had to wait a long time for such a Lucid Interval as this.
Old Prester John is writing A History of Brasenose College in any
moments he can spare from Homilies, and Recreations such as
Politics and the Mayfly. He has A Reputation for being a strong
party man but in the spring the Earlier (*your pardon) Affection triumphs and he
leaves for the Chalk Streams of Water in the South" at this moment
John Macnab the factor came to report that all was ready for a
start, The Free Fishers in attendance with their nets to drag the pools.
Headed by Sir Walter the party crossed the policies and leaving the
Power House to one side they passed the basin of a Fountain, Blue
in summer weather as the sky it reflected but now ruffled by the
wintry wind. They then descended The Thirty Nine Steps leading to
the path through the Green Glen. Here they scattered and searched
every yard, dragging the deeper pools of the burn and there on
again to the recesses of Witchwood where the trees grew so close it
was always An Oasis in the Snow. The traditional practices having
now been completed and the track of the search brought Full Order
Sir Walter gave the word to return and as they reached the foot
of the steps he solemnly intoned the old Moor - Song : -

"Thro' Flower-moss and heather
Mid snaw and mirk weather,"

"We seek thee Urith
While Moon Endureth."