Even then he took no chances, and for two days more lay hidden at
the bottom of the car.
When at last he arrived in Lorenzo Marques he at once sought out
the English Consul, who, after first mistaking him for a stoker
from one of the ships in the harbor, gave him a drink, a bath, and a
dinner.
As good luck would have it, the _Induna_ was leaving that night
for Durban, and, escorted by a body-guard of English residents
armed with revolvers, and who were taking no chances of his
recapture by the Boer agents, he was placed safely on board. Two
days later he arrived at Durban, where he was received by the
Mayor, the populace, and a brass band playing: "Britons Never,
Never, Never shall be Slaves!"
For the next month Churchill was bombarded by letters and
telegrams from every part of the globe, some invited him to
command filibustering expeditions, others sent him woollen
comforters, some forwarded photographs of himself to be signed,
others photographs of themselves, possibly to be admired, others
sent poems, and some bottles of whiskey.
One admirer wrote: "My congratulations on your wonderful and
glorious deeds, which will send such a thrill of pride and
enthusiasm through Great Britain and the United States of
America, that the Anglo-Saxon race will be irresistible."
Lest so large an order as making the Anglo-Saxon race irresistible
might turn the head of a subaltern, an antiseptic cablegram was
also sent him, from London, reading:
"Best friends here hope you won't go making further ass of
yourself.
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