Historical records of the 91st Argyllshire ... - waughfamily.ca

9 1ST ARGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS. 157arrived for the governor, Sir Peregrine Maitland,1846.escorted by eighteen mounted burghers, witha request from the commandant atFort Beaufort,that it should be sent on as soon as possible.The communication between Block Drift andFort Cox, where the governor was, was completelycut off, and accordingly volunteers were calledfor to carry the despatch.Two men immediatelycame forward, Robert Walsh and Thomas Reilly,and to them the despatch was entrusted. Theyleft Block Drift shortly after dark, and proceededon their perilous journey, dressed in uniform,and with their muskets. All went well for thefirst six miles, although they found themselvesin the vicinity of the Kaffirs. Suddenly, onentering a wooded valley at the foot of theAmatola Mountains, they came right upon aKaffir encampment, and had hardly time to throwthemselves on the ground in the thick underwood,when they found to their horror, that thenatives had heard their footsteps, as the latterrushed into the thicket to look forthe intruders.Fortunately, a porcupine was sighted,and theKaffirs, evidently satisfied, returned to their camp,muttering that it was an ' Easterfooke,' Angliceporcupine, that had alarmed them. Walsh and