Of this brigade and of the rapid rise of MacIver to highest rank and
honors in Servia, the scrap-book is most eloquent. The cavalry
brigade was to be called the Knights of the Red Cross.

In a letter to the editor of the _Hour_, the general himself speaks
of it in the following terms:

"It may be interesting to many of your readers to learn that a select
corps of gentlemen is at present in course of organization under
the above title with the mission of proceeding to the Levant to take
measures in case of emergency for the defense of the Christian
population, and more especially of British subjects who are to a
great extent unprovided with adequate means of protection from
the religious furies of the Mussulmans. The lives of Christian
women and children are in hourly peril from fanatical hordes. The
Knights will be carefully chosen and kept within strict military
control, and will be under command of a practical soldier with
large experience of the Eastern countries. Templars and all other
crusaders are invited to give aid and sympathy."

Apparently MacIver was not successful in enlisting many Knights,
for a war correspondent at the capital of Servia, waiting for the
war to begin, writes as follows:

"A Scotch soldier of fortune, Henry MacIver, a colonel by rank,
has arrived at Belgrade with a small contingent of military
adventurers. Five weeks ago I met him in Fleet Street, London, and
had some talk about his 'expedition.' He had received a
commission from the Prince of Servia to organize and command
an independent cavalry brigade, and he then was busily enrolling