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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, On Commando, by Dietlof Van Warmelo
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: On Commando
+
+Author: Dietlof Van Warmelo
+
+Release Date: February 24, 2005  [eBook #15160]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON COMMANDO***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Garrett Alley, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+ON COMMANDO
+
+by
+
+DIETLOF VAN WARMELO
+
+With a Portrait
+
+Methuen & Co.
+36 Essex Street W.C.
+London
+Colonial Library
+
+1902
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: DIETLOF VAN WARMELO]
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+This book was written in 1901, while its author was a prisoner at
+Ahmednagar. It was written in Dutch, and has been put into English by a
+young lady from what was the Orange Free State.
+
+The author is a friend and relation of mine, son of a clergyman in the
+Transvaal, and of old Afrikander stock on both sides. His book is the
+more valuable because of the absence of all literary pretensions, and it
+may be taken as truly representative of the Afrikander spirit, which has
+been so much misconceived in England.
+
+FREDERIK VAN EEDEN
+
+WALDEN, N. HOLLAND,
+_July_, 1902
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER
+
+FOREWORD
+
+      I. AT THE BOUNDARY--ENTRANCE INTO NATAL--DUNDEE--LADYSMITH
+
+     II. SIEGE OF LADYSMITH--BATTLE OF THE ROOIRANDJES--BLOWING
+         UP OF THE CANNON
+
+    III. THE EIGHT-DAY BATTLE OF THE TUGELA--TALK OF
+         INTERVENTION--RELIEF OF LADYSMITH
+
+     IV. DEWETSDRIFT--RETURN TO, AND FLIGHT FROM, PRETORIA
+
+      V. TREK FROM MIDDELBURG TO RUSTENBURG--BATTLE OF SELIKATSNEK
+
+     VI. GUERILLA LIFE ON THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS--NARROW ESCAPE
+         OF PRESIDENT STEYN AND GENERAL DE WET
+
+    VII. WITH PRESIDENT STEYN TO PRESIDENT KRUGER
+
+   VIII. WITH PRESIDENT STEYN IN THE BOSCHVELD--LOST
+
+     IX. PRACTICAL HINTS--ADVENTURE ON THE SABIE--NORTH OF LYDENBURG
+
+      X. FROM ROOSSENEKAL TO PIETERSBURG--WITH GENERAL BEYERS
+         TO THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS
+
+     XI. BATTLE OF NOOITGEDACHT
+
+    XII. PAARDEKRAAL DAY--BATTLE IN THE MOAT--ATTACK ON KAALFONTEIN
+         STATION
+
+   XIII. COMMANDO SUFFERINGS
+
+    XIV. BATTLE OF BOESMANSKOP--FLIGHT OF WOMEN
+
+     XV. BATTLE OF CHRISSIESMEER--REUNION WITH GENERAL BEYERS
+
+    XVI. CAMPED NEAR TAFELKOP
+
+CONCLUSION: BATTLE OF STOMPIES--IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY
+
+
+
+
+MY LIFE ON COMMANDO
+
+FOREWORD
+
+
+Could I have known that the war would last so long, I might from the
+beginning have taken notes. They would have brought back memories in a
+way pleasant to me now, and perhaps also to those who have asked me to
+write down my adventures.
+
+Often it occurred to me to keep a diary, but I was obliged to give up
+the idea because my clothes were sometimes so thoroughly drenched that
+the letters in my pocket were not readable. Later on, when clothes were
+scarce and pockets past mending, I often made the unpleasant discovery
+that caused the fool, on his journey from the land of Kokanje, to cry to
+the King: 'We have ridden at such a breakneck pace, see, everything has
+slipped through this little hole!' Now I am obliged to write down my
+adventures without any notes, so dates, numbers, and names of places
+will occasionally be missing. It stands to reason that I--being an exile
+in a strange country, in the fort of ... in ..., cut off from the world
+outside and without any official reports--should simply limit myself to
+my own personal experience. And, lastly, I must apologize to my readers
+for so often speaking of myself and my friends; but that is inevitable
+in this tale.
+
+I shall pass rapidly over the first part of my life on commando. If my
+memory plays me false--which is not very probable, as I still have a
+lively recollection of the events--I shall be grateful for correction.
+
+_July_, 1901.
+
+
+
+
+I
+
+AT THE BOUNDARY--ENTRANCE INTO NATAL--DUNDEE--LADYSMITH
+
+
+When that part of the Pretoria town commando to which my brother Frits
+and I belonged left for the Natal boundary on September 30, 1899, we
+were all very enthusiastic, as could be seen from the nice new suits,
+the new shining guns, and the sleek horses. Many ladies had come to the
+station to see us off, and we were proud of having the opportunity to
+fight for our country. Our departure seemed then to us a great occasion,
+we were inexperienced in war. We had not yet learnt that one could pass
+unscathed through many a fierce battle. We knew nothing of 'retreating'
+and we knew all about the enemy with whom we were to come in contact. We
+imagined that several sharp engagements would take place--that these
+would be decisive battles in which many of our men would be killed, and
+therefore the parting with relatives and friends was sad indeed.
+
+Our Field-Cornet, Melt Marais, had told us that we had nothing to see to
+except provisions for a day or two, as Government would supply us with
+all necessaries at Zandspruit, where the commandos were to concentrate;
+so many of us took neither pots, pans, nor mugs.
+
+What a disillusion it was to find on our arrival at Zandspruit that
+there were no tents, and as yet no provisions of any kind! So we were
+initiated by having to pass the first nights of our commando life on the
+open veld with insufficient food. And in the daytime our work was cut
+out for us, as every other minute our horses disappeared--lost among the
+thousands of horses that all looked exactly alike in the eyes of an
+inexperienced townsman. Then it meant a running and seeking, an
+examining of marks and tokens, until the stupid among us were obliged to
+tie ribbons to our horses as a means of recognising them. And one, the
+story goes, even tied a nosebag, with a bundle of forage, to his mount
+so that it should not run away.
+
+At length the provisions began to arrive, but the pots and pans were
+still scarce and we could not even drink a cup of coffee till a tin of
+jam or meat had been emptied.
+
+We were just beginning to feel comfortable, when the time stated in the
+ultimatum expired, and we had to cross the boundary of Natal. General
+Erasmus was at the head of our commando. We spent the night near
+Volksrust in a cold hail storm and rain. Those first days we are not
+likely to forget. They were wet, cold days, and we were still
+unaccustomed to preparing our own food and looking after ourselves.
+Fortunately, we had the opportunity, a few days later, of supplying
+ourselves with all necessaries at Newcastle.
+
+Before we crossed the boundary General Erasmus had addressed us and told
+us the news of our first victory--the taking of an armoured train at
+Kraaipan; at that time we still made a fuss about such a trifle. Also,
+in those days, we still looked up with respect to our leaders.
+
+Ds. Postma, who accompanied us everywhere, led us in prayer. Not one of
+the burghers seems to have known where the enemy were. We advanced
+slowly and carefully, as we expected _to meet with the enemy at any
+moment_; but we saw no signs of them until we came to Dundee. After a
+rest of a few days we undertook the momentous expedition to the
+mountains of Dundee, to the north of the town.
+
+Towards evening we got the order to 'prepare for three days.' For three
+days! And we had not even provisions enough for one. But we understood
+that there could not yet be a proper commissariat, and we fought for our
+country willingly, convinced of the justice of our cause; so we
+'prepared' cheerfully.
+
+Before the commando started, a terrible thunderstorm came on that slowly
+passed over and was followed by a gentle rain. We rode hard in the dark,
+through dongas, past farms and houses, zigzagging in a half-circle, to
+the mountains of Dundee. No sound was to be heard except the dull thud
+of the hoofs of the galloping horses. Now and again we whispered to each
+other how delightfully we were going to surprise the enemy. When the
+horses came to a sudden pause, and an inexperienced rider, owing to a
+presentiment of evil, involuntarily uttered his wish to 'halt,' we
+turned upon him angrily and called him 'traitor.' We did not then know
+that we were far beyond earshot of the enemy. It stopped raining, and
+towards morning we reached the mountains; and after we had with great
+difficulty got our horses on to the mountains, we had to await the dawn
+in the cold, drenched to the skin. A mackintosh is of small service in
+such a rain. When the day dawned we led our horses higher up. A thick
+fog had come on. General Lucas Meyer was to begin the attack on the
+west, and we were to surprise the enemy from the heights.
+
+When the roar of cannon announced the battle, we were full of
+enthusiasm, but General Erasmus forbade anyone to move on before the fog
+lifted. It was quite possible that the fog might be only on the
+mountain-tops, because of their great height, and that we would have
+clear weather as soon as we began to descend, therefore several of our
+men begged General Erasmus to be allowed to go on ahead as scouts. But
+he was very much against it, and said that the enemy might cut off our
+retreat, and 'if the enemy surround us it is all up with us,' said he.
+As soon as the roar of the cannon ceased, we withdrew some distance into
+the mountains to let our horses graze. But we had only just off-saddled,
+when from all sides came the cry of 'Saddle! saddle!' and from our left,
+in the valley, came the sound of firing. A detachment of 250 khakies,
+probably knowing nothing of our whereabouts, and intending to pass round
+the mountains and attack Lucas Meyer in the rear, was compelled to
+surrender in a few moments, after first having sought cover in a kraal
+near a house.
+
+We remained three days on the Dundee mountains, and during all that time
+there was a steady drizzle, with intervals of hail and wind. Once when
+it cleared up for a few hours we got the order to attack the town, but
+it began to rain again, and that night we had to keep our positions in
+the intense cold, without any covering. Fortunately, the enemy abandoned
+their camp that night, and when we looked down upon the town next
+morning the khakies had vanished. We had only the preceding day placed
+our cannon in a position to command the camp.
+
+When we returned to our saddles, the horses had strayed so far that it
+took us almost all day to get them back. My uncle, Paul Maré, formerly
+Volksraad member for Zoutpansberg, treated us to kaboe-mealies (roasted
+maize), the first we had on commando, and we ate with great relish.
+
+Meanwhile the commando had left. We followed, and entered Dundee, where
+we helped ourselves hungrily to the good things from the shops placed at
+the disposal of the commandos.
+
+In an unorganized army looting is a necessary evil. There are always
+some of the lower classes who are the ringleaders, and when the
+commandos reach a house or farm that has already been looted, they join
+in the looting 'because the burghers are on commando, and they must be
+well supplied with all necessaries, so as to be able to fight well.' So
+we reasoned, and we joined in the looting. I can affirm, to the honour
+of our burghers, that it was not our intention to plunder, and in the
+beginning much was done to prevent it. The lower class Uitlander, who
+joined us for the sake of booty, and not for love and sympathy towards
+us, was largely responsible for the bad name we got among right-minded
+people who did not know the facts of the case. It was the same as
+regards theft. If anyone missed his horse, he had but to look for it
+among the 'Irish corps,' or some other Uitlander corps, and unless he
+knew his beast well he would fail to recognise it, as both mane and tail
+would have been cut short by the thief. I do not wish to pretend that
+_we_ were always free from blame. It has happened that the Uitlander got
+a very poor horse in exchange for his thoroughbred because a Boer had
+tied the token of recognition to his own horse and made off with the
+better one. The truth is that very few men are proof against the
+demoralizing influence of war, and I will not deny that this war has
+shown up our many faults; but in my tale I shall be able to take up the
+cudgels for my people in cases where the rest of the world turned from
+us because they were disappointed in their expectations of us.
+
+After our departure from Dundee the looting went on freely. Then we
+began to witness the devastation that is the irremediable consequence of
+war. Here and there a house had been completely plundered. At Glencoe
+Junction I entered the stationmaster's house, a well-furnished house
+with beautiful pictures, books, and mirrors. Some massive silver mugs
+and other articles of value were lying about. The family had only just
+dined, for the cloth was still laid. I ate of the food on the table,
+wrote a letter home with pen and ink, and left the house. Later on, when
+I returned, it had been thoroughly looted and some of the mirrors
+smashed. There were many of the riff-raff, Kaffirs and coolies in the
+neighbourhood, and in all probability they had done the mischief.
+
+When our commando left Dundee to move in the direction of Ladysmith,
+part of the Pretoria town commando was sent to reinforce Lucas Meyer,
+who was to follow the troops fleeing from Dundee with his commando. My
+brother and I went with it. A terrible thunderstorm came on just then,
+and during the whole march to Ladysmith it rained heavily. Every moment
+we expected to come up with the troops, but they had too great a start,
+and we did not overtake them at all. We were too late again. An English
+General has said that 'the Boers are brave, and make good plans, but are
+always twenty-four hours late.' That can be explained in this way. We
+were accustomed to fighting against Kaffirs, who hid in woods and
+mountains, and against whom we had to advance with the utmost
+precaution, so as to lose as few lives as possible. So we were too
+cautious in the beginning of the war. We would not make a great
+sacrifice to win a battle.
+
+On October 30 we were present, under Lucas Meyer, at the battle near
+Ladysmith, but we did not come into action, as we belonged to a part of
+the commando that had to hold a position to prevent attack in the rear.
+The enemy did not attack our position at all, except with a few bombs,
+because they suffered a great defeat near Modderspruit, and had to
+retreat hurriedly. From our positions we could see how every time the
+bombs burst among them the fleeing troops seemed to get 'mazed' for a
+moment, and then went forward again.
+
+At that time we were often in want of food. One must have suffered
+hunger to know what it means. In a few linen bags I had some biscuits
+that had first been reduced to crumbs through the riding, and then to a
+kind of pap by the rain and perspiration of the horse. Often when I
+felt the pangs of famine I added some sugar to this mess and ate it with
+relish.
+
+Some days later we left Lucas Meyer and returned to our commando, which
+had meanwhile gone to the north of Ladysmith. During our absence
+Zeederberg had taken the place of Melt Marais as Veld-Cornet.
+
+
+
+
+II
+
+SIEGE OF LADYSMITH--BATTLE OF THE ROOIRANDJES--BLOWING UP OF THE CANNON
+
+
+When we surrounded the town and the siege began, all talk of the bananas
+that we were to eat in the south of Natal came to an end.
+
+Ladysmith ought never to have been besieged. On October 30 we should
+have made use of our advantage. If we had at once followed the enemy
+when they fled in disorder, we should in all probability easily have
+taken those positions that would have involved the immediate surrender
+of Ladysmith. Many lives would have been sacrificed, but not so many as
+were sacrificed during the whole siege. And we might have used those men
+who were necessary to maintain the siege elsewhere as an attacking
+force. Instead of following up our advantage, we deliberately prepared
+for a siege. The enemy meanwhile made use of the opportunity to entrench
+themselves well. Most of our burghers were against our attempting to
+take the town by assault when once it was thoroughly entrenched.
+
+The Pretoria town commando and that from Krokodil River in the Pretoria
+district occupied the position nearest to Ladysmith. This was a hill to
+the north of the town, flat at the top, and surrounded by a stone wall.
+In all probability the enclosed depression of about 500 paces in circuit
+had been used as a cattle-kraal. Against that kopje (hill) we gradually
+put up our tents. From our camp we looked on to a large flat mountain
+that we called Little Amajuba, because on October 30 the first large
+capture of prisoners had been made there. In front of our kopje, near
+the foot, ran a donga, and at a distance of about 1,000 paces, parallel
+to us, lay another oblong kopje occupied by the enemy. This kopje we
+called Rooirandjes.
+
+On November 8 we received the order from our General to attack the
+Rooirandjes the following day. We were about 250 strong, and very
+willing, as that position had not yet been entrenched. On a mountain to
+our right a cannon had been placed that was to begin firing on the
+enemy's position towards dawn. Distinct orders were given that our
+Veld-Cornet was to be at the foot of Rooirandjes with his men before
+daybreak. But something went wrong again, and it was already quite light
+when we reached the donga. We found ourselves at a distance of about 700
+paces from the Rooirandjes, and we had to cross an open space if we
+still wished to storm the position. The enemy's watch already began
+shooting at us.
+
+The corporals let their men advance in groups of four from the donga to
+the kopje, using the ant-hills as cover when they lay down. Our turn
+came last, but meanwhile the enemy had received reinforcements, and the
+nearest ant-hills were nearly all occupied, so that only three men could
+go at a time. Such a shower of bullets fell that it was a miracle that
+we came out of it alive. Fortunately I found a free ant-hill. My brother
+had to share one with a comrade.
+
+At last the cannon from the mountain fired a few shots, but stopped
+again almost immediately--why, I do not yet know. So we were obliged to
+lie in our positions. It was terribly hot, and not a cloud in the sky.
+We suffered horribly from thirst, and scarcely dared move to get at our
+water-bags. One of our comrades lay groaning behind me. He was shot
+through both legs. The bullets kept flying over our heads to the kopje
+behind us, where some of our burghers lay firing at the enemy. Every now
+and again a bullet exploded in our neighbourhood with the noise of a
+pistol-shot. I fancy only Dum-Dums make that peculiar noise. We had
+already seen many such bullets taken from the enemy by our burghers in
+the Battle of Modderspruit. Another burgher, Mulder, ran past me with a
+smile on his lips, threw himself behind an ant-hill, immediately rose
+again with the intention of joining some of our burghers in the front
+ranks, who sat calmly smoking behind some rocks under a tree, but had
+not gone two paces when he was shot in the thigh. There he had to lie
+groaning until our brave Reineke, who was killed later on at Spion Kop,
+saw a chance of carrying him away.
+
+Some of us fell asleep from fatigue. One of our men on waking heard the
+hiss of a bullet over his head at regular intervals, and thought that a
+khaki had got closer up to him, and was firing at him from the side.
+When he lifted his head he found that he had rolled away from all cover.
+One, two, three, back he was again behind his ant-hill, and the
+scoundrel stopped firing at him. It was lucky for us that the enemy were
+such bad shots, or not many of us would have lived to tell the tale.
+
+When our cannon at last, towards evening, condescended to bombard the
+enemy, the firing almost wholly ceased, and we made use of that
+favourable opportunity to get back to the donga. We had lain nine hours
+behind those ant-hills, and, strange to say, there were only two wounded
+on our side. We decided not to run the same risk again. In this way we
+lost our confidence in men like the brothers Erasmus, General and
+Commandant, who, in the first place, were incapable of organizing a good
+plan of attack, and, secondly, never took part in a battle.
+
+The months spent near Ladysmith were to most of us the most tedious of
+the whole war. We had so little to do, and the heat between the glowing
+rocks of the kopjes was awful. The little work we had was anything but
+pleasant; it consisted chiefly in keeping guard either by day or by
+night. In the beginning a very bad watch was kept. Later on we had to
+climb the kopje at least every alternate evening to pass the long nights
+in our positions, while not far behind us stood our empty tents.
+
+When we got back in the morning with our bundles on our backs, dead
+tired, we simply 'flopped' on to a stone, and sat waiting for our cup of
+coffee, either gazing at the lovely landscape or at the dirty camp,
+according to the mood we were in, or exchanging loud jokes with our
+neighbours. Constantly being on guard and constantly being in danger
+wears one out. We much prefer active service on patrol or in a skirmish
+to lying in our positions. It is not in the nature of the Boer to lie
+inactive far from his home. He soon wants to go 'huis-toe' (home), and
+very soon the 'leave-plague' broke out in our camp. That plague was one
+of the causes why the enemy succeeded in breaking through our lines.
+
+Through unfairness on the part of the officers, some burghers often got
+leave, others never, and the consequence, of course, was a constant
+quarrelling. Many burghers got leave and never returned--either with or
+without the knowledge of the officers. No wonder we never had a proper
+fighting force in the field.
+
+The difficulties we had to contend with through want of organization
+prevented the Generals from putting their plans into execution.
+
+Fortunately, many burghers were very willing, and if there was to be a
+fight they always went voluntarily. It was noticeable that those under a
+capable General fought well, while those under a bad or incapable
+General were very weak indeed. Sometimes wonders were done at the
+initiative of some of the burghers. We had a few games in the camp to
+pass the time, but we were kept busy in a different way also. Sometimes,
+when we were all just comfortably lazy, the order would be given to
+'mount.' That meant a hurried search for our horses and snatching up our
+guns and bandoliers. But after a while we had had enough of those false
+alarms, and they failed to make any impression on us. The call of 'The
+English are coming! saddle, saddle!' became proverbial.
+
+When we did not keep such constant guard, we sat or lay listening of an
+evening to a most discordant noise caused by the singing of psalms and
+hymns at the same time at different farms. We sometimes joined in. As a
+people we are not very musical.
+
+The day-watch we liked best. Then we often got a chance of firing a shot
+at a careless khaki on the Rooirandjes. To some of our young men there
+was something very exciting in the idea that they were in constant
+danger. Every now and again a bomb, too, would come flying over the
+camp, and the whole commando would make for the rocks amid shouts of
+laughter.
+
+At that time we still felt rather down when there was a fight in
+prospect. When, some time after our attack on the Rooirandjes, we went
+to the west of Ladysmith to attack Platrand, we did not feel at all
+comfortable, although we went voluntarily. It was a lovely ride in the
+dark at a flying gallop, but when we found on our arrival at Platrand
+that the promised number of men was not there, we rode away again quite
+satisfied that we had not to attempt the attack. For had we not made up
+our minds not to risk a repetition of the attack on Rooirandjes?
+
+The blowing-up of the cannon at Ladysmith is one of the episodes of the
+war that we look back upon with a feeling of shame. A few days after a
+Long Tom had been blown up on Umbulwana Kop, east of Ladysmith, I warned
+our Field-Cornet that the enemy were busy spying in our neighbourhood at
+night. While on guard, we could distinctly hear the flapping of the
+saddles and the neighing of the horses in front of us. I foretold a
+repetition of what had happened on Umbulwana Kop. The Field-Cornet
+promised that the guard would be doubled that night. Towards morning
+those of us who were not on guard were waked out of our sleep by a loud
+cry of 'Hurrah!' from the throats of a few hundred Englishmen who were
+blowing up two cannon on a mountain to our right, close to us. We sprang
+towards our positions, stumbling and falling over stones, not knowing
+what was going on, and expecting the khakies at any moment. It was the
+first time that we had heard a fight at night, and it gave us a creepy
+feeling. We saw the flames of the guns and from the exploding bullets,
+and heard the rattling of the shots and the shouting, but we could not
+join in the fight, as we--eight of us--were not allowed to leave our
+positions. Now and again a bullet fell in our neighbourhood, and the
+Free State Artillery, who were on the mountains to the right, fired some
+bombs at the enemy, nearly hitting us in the dark.
+
+When it got lighter we went to look at the dead and wounded, perhaps
+from a feeling of bravado, perhaps to accustom ourselves to the sight.
+The enemy had paid dearly for their brave deed. They know the number of
+their dead and wounded better than we do, for they had opportunity
+enough to carry them away. On our side only four were killed and a few
+wounded. Niemeyer, Van Zyl and Villiers were among the killed. Pott was
+severely wounded. Niemeyer had several bayonet wounds.
+
+After that we were, of course, doubly careful. We have never been able
+to discover who failed in their duty on guard. Cooper and Tossel were
+suspected and accused. They were sent to Pretoria under arrest, but the
+investigation never led to any result. We have every reason to believe
+that our burghers were guilty of treachery more than once near
+Ladysmith. Government ought from the start to have taken strict measures
+against traitors and spies.
+
+Some days after the blowing up of the cannon I sprained my left knee,
+which I had already hurt before the war began. General Erasmus gave me
+leave to go home for an unlimited time. On my way home I passed my
+brother Willem without being aware of it. He had come from Holland,
+where he was studying, to take part in the war.
+
+What a meeting with relatives and friends! How much there was to tell!
+Even then we had not experienced very much, and how much more will our
+burghers have to tell their dear ones on returning from their exile in
+strange countries! There will, alas! be much sorrow, too; for many of
+our friends and relatives have been killed in this war, and many more
+will have yet to give their lives for their country!
+
+
+
+
+III
+
+THE EIGHT-DAY BATTLE OF THE TUGELA--TALK OF INTERVENTION--RELIEF OF
+LADYSMITH
+
+
+Before my knee was quite cured I returned to Ladysmith. The first thing
+that caught my eye on my return to the camp was the balloon above
+Ladysmith. It looked just like a large crocodile-eye as it followed all
+my movements. When I went to look for my horse or to fetch water or
+wood, there it stood, high up in the sky, and I felt as if it kept its
+eye specially fixed on me, and as if I might expect a bomb at any
+moment.
+
+We had never in all our lives seen so many flies as at Ladysmith. We had
+to hurry over our meals as they made eating almost an impossibility to
+us. Fortunately, I was only a short time there, as towards the end of
+January, 1900, part of our commando, including my brother and myself,
+was sent to the Tugela as reinforcement. We had a distance of four and a
+half hours to ride, and we had to ride hard, as the enemy were
+determined to force their way through. We arrived the same day, just two
+days after the enemy had tried to force their way through to the right
+of Spion Kop and had been defeated. On nearing the high Tugela mountains
+we heard more and more distinctly the constant rattling of bullets,
+interrupted by the roar of the cannon and the bom-bom-bom of our saucy
+bomb-Maxim, that made our hearts expand and those of the enemy shrink.
+As we raced on to the foot of the mountains, the bullets that the enemy
+were sending over the mountains to find the Boers raised the dust around
+us.
+
+The following morning we went to lie in a trench that had been dug by
+our men on a rise to the right of Spion Kop. The previous day eight
+burghers had been wounded there. Red Danie Opperman was Field-Cornet.
+Not far from us, to our left, stood a few of our cannon, and facing us,
+to our left, on the long mountain slope, we could see fourteen guns of
+the enemy's. In front of us was a large wood, and close to that the
+English camp. We could see the enemy moving in great close square
+masses. It was a terribly hot day; we had to lie in the trenches, as all
+day long the enemy fired at us from the smaller positions facing us, at
+a distance of 15,000 paces; and constantly the bombs burst over our
+heads. At regular intervals a lyddite bomb--that gave us a shock through
+our whole body--came from the wood towards the cannon on our left. Once
+only part of our entrenchment, where, fortunately, no one happened to
+be, was blown to bits.
+
+Whenever there was a moment's pause, we lifted our heads above the
+trenches to have a look at the lovely landscape and at the positions of
+our enemy. That day not one of us was wounded. Only the artillery
+suffered. If our few cannon ventured to make themselves heard, eight or
+more bombs followed in quick succession to silence them. Next to me lay
+a man whose servant, a restless, impatient Bushman, most amicably
+addressed him as Johnny. The Bushman went to and fro continually to a
+'chum' of his who lay hidden behind a rock close to us. Once, on one of
+his visits to his 'chum,' a bullet struck the ground close to his
+heels; he stood still, looked slowly and defiantly from his heels to
+the enemy, and said in a most emphatic tone, 'You confounded
+Englishman!' and calmly proceeded on his way to his chum.
+
+To the right of this position was an open space, almost level with the
+immediate surroundings, but ending in a steep decline some 900 paces
+further on. There we went towards evening with a reinforcement of the
+Pretoria town commando that had followed us. The Field-Cornet made us
+stand in rows, and told off forty men to dig a trench that night. The
+rest of the men would relieve us the following night. My brother and I
+were in the first shift. Towards morning, while we were still digging at
+the trenches, fire was opened across the whole line of battle. We
+imagined that we were being attacked, and jammed ourselves in the narrow
+trench. But as the attack did not come off, and the bullets flew high
+over our heads, we went on digging until daybreak. Then we noticed that
+the enemy were lying in a trench about 800 paces ahead of us. We fired a
+few shots at them, but saved our ammunition for an eventual storming.
+
+The whole of that day and the two succeeding days there was a constant
+salvo over our heads. The bullets flew over our heads like finches, and
+did us no harm, but we had to be on our guard against the sharpshooters,
+who occasionally fired close to us. That day (January 24), the heroic
+Battle of Spion Kop took place, where our burghers, after having been
+surprised in the night by the enemy and driven off the kop, obliged
+them, after a stubborn fight, to abandon it again. The Pretoria men, who
+were to have relieved us in the trench, took a great part in that
+battle. Reineke, Yeppe, Malherbe, De Villiers, and Olivier were killed.
+Ihrige was severely wounded.
+
+All day long we lay listening to the fighting, for we could not sleep.
+We had to stay in the trench three days and four nights before we were
+relieved. Water and food were brought to us, or fetched by our men at
+night, as we did not venture to leave the trench by day. We were safe
+enough, for the bombs had not much effect on the sand-walls of our
+trench, and there was always time to stoop to avoid them. The following
+morning news was brought to us that the enemy had abandoned the whole
+line of battle and were retreating in the direction of Chieveley.
+
+The battle of the Tugela had lasted eight days.
+
+I had again hurt my knee, and had to leave Ladysmith for Pretoria, from
+whence I went to Warmbad at Waterberg to stay for a few weeks with Mrs.
+Klein-Frikkie Grobler, who received me most kindly. My brother Frits got
+leave for the first time then, too, and Willem remained at Ladysmith.
+During my absence the English broke through at Pieter's Heights, where
+Willem was made prisoner and Lüttig, Malherbe and Stuart de Villiers
+were killed. Meanwhile Frits had gone, with some other Pretoria men, to
+the Orange Free State, where the enemy had surrounded General Cronje.
+
+Since the beginning of the siege our burghers always thought the town
+would fall soon. 'The khakies cannot hold out any longer! They have no
+provisions, and their ammunition must be coming to an end! Buller can
+never cross the Tugela, our positions are too good! What does it matter
+if _I_ do go on leave? The khakies cannot get through!' That was the
+opinion of most of the burghers. And if anyone ventured to point out
+that the enemy _might_ force their way through because we did not all do
+our duty, he was either not believed or looked upon as a traitor.
+Meanwhile enthusiasm was dying out. The burghers lay in their lagers or
+went home, trusting to the few willing ones, who ultimately proved not
+strong enough to withstand the overwhelming force that Buller brought to
+bear upon one point of our positions when he was obliged to force his
+way through at no matter what cost.
+
+No leave should have been given during the war, and here I may as well
+mention--although this tale does not pretend to be a history of the
+war--that it has been carried on with far too great laxity, owing to the
+ignorance of our Generals and the demoralizing influence of
+self-interest and nepotism. We should have sent our forces far into the
+Cape Colony to get help from our brothers in a war that had been forced
+upon us by England. The Colonial Afrikanders never had the opportunity
+of standing by us, because we did not supply them with the necessary
+ammunition or stretch out our hands towards them. Unless they had help
+from our invading forces, they dared not risk a rising, because of the
+confiscation of their property in case of failure.
+
+We have had to suffer--to suffer cruelly for our sins. Our enemy forced
+his way through the dyke that surrounded us, and like a stormy sea he
+ruined our homes, devastated our fields, and caused us endless
+suffering. Besides this, the talk of intervention had an enervating
+effecton the commandos. In our commando, which was largely composed of
+ignorant men, the strangest stories went round. One was that the
+Russians had landed somewhere in South Africa with 100 cannon. There was
+always talk of a great European War having broken out; and the
+consequence was that the Boers counted on intervention or help from the
+Powers, instead of depending on their own strength and perseverance. The
+most sensible among us recognised the improbability of intervention. It
+was not to the interest of any foreign Power to intervene in South
+Africa where it had no firm footing, particularly as Chamberlain had, by
+most cunning artifices, forced us to be the aggressors.
+
+War was inevitable. Sooner or later it had to come. After the Jameson
+Raid, which was really the beginning of the war, the Transvaal
+Government recognised the dangerous position in which it stood, as an
+isolated Republic, and was therefore obliged to arm itself with the most
+modern of military equipments. Before the Jameson Raid race hatred was
+dying out rapidly. The consequence of the raid was that the gap between
+Boer and Englishman widened, the sympathy of the Uitlanders for us grew
+deeper, and the Afrikander Bond grew stronger. England's prestige in
+South Africa was threatened, and with it her rank as first Power in the
+world. She had to maintain her supremacy in South Africa; while for us
+it had become a question of all or nothing. England has evidently
+succeeded in keeping up such friendly relations with the other Powers
+that no intervention seems possible.
+
+The relief of Ladysmith took place on February 28--a Majuba Day--a day
+that had been marked as a red-letter day in our calendars. For nineteen
+years the enemy have longed to wipe out the remembrance of that day, and
+they have done so brilliantly and malignantly. Since that time we have
+been humiliated and belittled. Our fall was great. For the first time
+there was a general panic. The two Republics, being forced to venture on
+war against a powerful kingdom, felt themselves staggering under the
+heavy blow.
+
+
+
+
+IV
+
+DEWETSDRIFT--RETURN TO, AND FLIGHT FROM, PRETORIA
+
+
+After the relief of Kimberley and Ladysmith we imagined that the
+decisive battles would soon follow. Although my knee was not yet cured,
+I went to Glencoe, whither our commandos had retreated. I was not five
+days there when I had to leave, being unfit for active service. Again I
+went to Warmbad for some weeks with Mr. Burgemeester Potgieter and his
+family, and on my return to Pretoria remained in my office until the
+beginning of May.
+
+Meanwhile Frits had returned from the Free State, and my knee was cured.
+We each bought ourselves a sturdy pony, and left, with some other
+burghers, by train for Klerksdorp, from where we went on to Dewetsdrift,
+on the Vaal River. General Viljoen was guarding the drift there with
+some hundreds of burghers. We rode from there some four or five hours
+into the Free State to spy the movements of the enemy.
+
+From Dewetsdrift we went, under Commandant Boshoff, to Schoemansdrift,
+Venterskroon, and Lindequidrift. Our division formed part of the escort
+for the guns. Our route lay through beautiful scenery. The Vaal twists
+and bends between two high mountains that curve on either side like the
+roads the khaki makes with his double row of waggons over the hills of
+the Hoogeveld. In every opening of the mountains lies a farm, a mean
+little house, but among well-cultivated fields. In nearly every farm the
+family was grieving for one of its members who had been taken prisoner
+along with Cronje, and of whose fate they were in ignorance. The people
+received us very kindly. Everywhere we got milk and biscuits, and we
+found afterwards that those people were the kindest who had suffered the
+most from the war.
+
+As the enemy were already on their way to Johannesburg, we had to
+retreat as rapidly as possible, first to Bank Station, near
+Potchefstroom, and then by train to Langlaagte. To the north-west of
+Johannesburg we had a skirmish with the enemy, who attacked us as we
+were feeding our horses. It appeared that our guard was not on duty. I
+have never seen horses saddled so quickly. Most of the burghers rode off
+and left us behind with the guns. One ammunition waggon stuck in the
+mud, and was left behind, but was brought in safety to Pretoria by Frans
+Lottering, a comrade of mine, who rode back for it with some gunners
+when we had fled. Lottering was given a sword by General de la Rey for
+his brave conduct. Through negligence on the part of our officers we
+lost on that occasion one gun, several waggons, and some of our men.
+
+Almost all night long we retreated with our guns to Pretoria. We had not
+lost courage. We all spoke of the thorough way in which our Government
+would have fortified Pretoria, and of the great battle that would take
+place there. We had all made up our minds to a stubborn resistance at
+our capital. What a bitter disappointment it was to find that our
+Government had decided not to defend the town! The causes that led to
+such a decision will be brought to light by historians. The consequences
+were that many of the burghers were discouraged, and rode 'huis-toe,'
+and nothing came of the great battle that was to have been fought.
+
+Frits and I decided to give our horses a few days' rest in their stables
+before going to meet the enemy.
+
+On June 4, at about twelve o'clock, while we were at luncheon, a lyddite
+bomb fell close to the fort, raising a cloud of dust. My mother went
+outside, and came back quickly to tell us that it was not a shot _from_
+the fort, but from the enemy. The bombs followed in quick succession.
+They flew over Schanskop fort, and fell close to our house at Sunnyside.
+As the ground was rocky they exploded well. My mother and sister fled
+with our neighbours to the town, and my brother and I saddled our horses
+and rode off to Quaggaspoort.
+
+From over the mountains, to the south of the town, the bombs came flying
+as a gentle warning from the khakies that it would be better to
+surrender in order to avoid a great calamity.
+
+It was sad to see how few horses there were at the foot of the mountain.
+Here a group of four, there of ten--a sign that the number of burghers
+in the positions was very small indeed. When the enemy appeared at
+Quaggaspoort, we noticed that the burghers from the direction of
+Krokodil River were retreating, and a moment later they were all in full
+flight. One of my comrades, a brother of Lottering, was wounded in the
+arm by a shell as he fled, and had to remain behind in Pretoria. That
+night my brother and I spent in our own home, but we left the town the
+following morning in the direction of Silverton, just before the enemy
+entered.
+
+It would be well to try and understand the condition of our country and
+the temper of our burghers.
+
+As the capital was in the hands of the enemy, it was easy enough to
+convince our simple-minded men that our country was irretrievably lost
+to us. Therefore a period of discouragement and demoralization followed.
+Many burghers, also, who had all along fought bravely now remained
+behind in the towns or on their farms, not daring to leave their wives
+and daughters at the mercy of the soldiers. We may not judge those men,
+neither need we consider it to our credit that we, either from a sense
+of duty or from a spirit of adventure, acted differently. There were
+many also who argued that the Government was corrupt, and that the war
+should have been prevented, or that the Boers did not want to fight. So
+they also became unfaithful to the cause, and to those along with whom
+they began the war. And the name of 'hands-upper' was earned by those
+burghers who of their own free will surrendered to the enemy. The chaff
+was divided from the grain; cowards and traitors remained behind, and
+the willing ones went to the veld, even though it were in a retreating
+direction. We were still very hopeful. There were still the good
+positions in the Lydenberg district, and we had heard that De Wet had
+cut the line of communication behind the enemy. We also still had an
+intact line to Delagoa Bay.
+
+My brother and I met our old comrade Frans Loitering, and the three of
+us went in search of General Grobler of Waterberg, who lay with his
+commando to the east of Pretoria at Franspoort, near Donkerhoek. There
+we joined his commando. Our camp was put up near a Kaffir location, and
+as the Kaffirs were clean, we often bought boiled sweet potatoes and
+crushed maize from them.
+
+Nothing particular happened at Franspoort. To the right and left of us
+some desperate fighting went on for several days, and at Donkerhoek a
+fierce battle took place, but we were not attacked.
+
+When the news came that the enemy had broken through our lines at
+Donkerhoek, and that we had to retreat, my brother and I left Grobler's
+commando. Thinking that the commandos would fall back upon the positions
+of Belfast, we went to Middelburg to an uncle of ours, the missionary
+Jan Maré, in order to give our horses a rest. We had lost sight of our
+comrade Frans. On our way we bought bread at the farms, or had it given
+us, cut a piece off an ox that had been slaughtered for the commando,
+and slept either in a manger or, as was more often the case, in the open
+air of the cold Hoogeveld. We arrived at Middelburg completely
+exhausted, and are not likely to forget our uncle's great hospitality.
+
+We accidentally met our former Commandant, Boshoff, who told us that he
+was on his way with ten men to join General de la Rey, who had gone in
+the direction of Rustenburg to cut the enemy's line of communication
+between Mafeking and Pretoria, and we very willingly joined him, after a
+delightful rest of ten days.
+
+The commando of Commandant Boshoff consisted of nine burghers with an
+ambulance waggon--that was used for the commissariat and for our
+bedding--a French doctor, two Kaffirs and two tents. It seemed as if we
+were going for a picnic. But it was necessary that we should be well
+provided with all sorts of things, as our journey would be through the
+Boschland, where fever and horse-sickness play havoc with man and horse
+in summer. In winter it is endurable for a few months only, so the
+country is very scarcely populated and almost uncultivated, and in
+winter the Boers trek there with their cattle from the bare, chill
+Hoogeveld. I had always longed to see that part of the Transvaal.
+
+
+
+
+V
+
+TREK FROM MIDDELBURG TO RUSTENBURG--BATTLE OF SELIKATSNEK
+
+
+Some hours north of Middelburg one suddenly leaves the high plateau of
+the Boschveld for a difficult road that curves steadily downwards
+between two high mountains until it reaches a wide, thickly-wooded
+valley. In the kloof (mountain-pass) a swiftly-flowing river cuts the
+road that goes along its banks, in several places, before it loses
+itself in the Olifants River. There the song of many birds, not to be
+found on the Hoogeveld, can be heard, and there it was delightfully
+warm, in comparison with the chilly air of the Hoogeveld. Of an evening
+we made large fires, as there was plenty of dry wood. We sat round the
+fire, chatting or listening to the comic songs which one of our comrades
+sang. It was a happy time--away from khaki, far beyond reach of the
+roar of cannon--a time of rest in preparation for the evil days that
+awaited us.
+
+Everywhere we saw flocks of sheep and herds of cattle grazing among the
+bushes--always a sign that we should find a waggon or two with tents
+close to them, under the nearest trees. Sometimes, near a drift or a
+good place to uitspan, quite a small lager had been formed of the trek
+Boers, or, rather, of their wives, for the husbands and sons of many had
+gone to the war. The Boers who fled with their cattle in that way we
+called 'Bush-lancers.' We came up with De la Rey's lager near the Elands
+River, and later on made the acquaintance of Captain Kirsten's scouts,
+to whom we offered our services. In those days it was very pleasant to
+belong to the reconnoitring corps. When we went to reconnoitre our
+horses got plenty of forage on the farms, and as we were few in number
+and always ahead of the lager, there were always eggs, bread, and milk
+to be had. We had enough to do, also, as we had to keep a sharp
+look-out, and we were in constant danger, but not at all afraid of the
+patrols of khakies, which, being small in number and without their
+guns, were pretty harmless. We advanced almost parallel to the Magalies
+Mountains, that stretch from Pretoria to Rustenburg, until we came to
+the neighbourhood of Selikatsnek. Unless one was well acquainted with
+the highways and byways of that part of the country, one was in constant
+danger of losing the way; it is a long stretch of bush, consisting of
+the well-known thorn-bushes of the Hoogeveld, for a distance of about
+ten miles deep. The principal passes of the Magalies Mountains were
+occupied by the enemy--Wonderboompoort, Hornsnek, Selikatsnek,
+Commandonek, Olifantsnek. General de la Rey had made up his mind to take
+Selikatsnek, and on July 11 he succeeded, by his strong will and
+military talent.
+
+While we were reconnoitring with Captain Kirsten's party we got the news
+that De la Rey had attacked Selikatsnek--about an hour's ride from where
+we were--and that the battle was still going on. We all rode to the
+scene of action, but my brother and I, with a few other men, remained
+behind to wait for Captain Kirsten, who was absent at the time. As soon
+as he arrived we rode off, and arrived at Selikatsnek at about nine
+o'clock. Our burghers had already taken two of the enemy's guns.
+
+Selikatsnek (or Moselikatsnek) is a narrow opening in the Magalies
+Mountains, with high shoulders on either side, that slope gradually to a
+white kopje in the centre. If an attacking party once occupies the
+shoulders, it can easily keep the enemy on the kopje or on the two
+slopes. When we arrived our burghers already occupied the principal
+positions--both shoulders and the smaller positions to the front of the
+kopje. The enemy had been obliged to draw in their clipped wings, and to
+concentrate on and in the neighbourhood of the white kopje.
+
+But as the shoulders of the pass were very steep on the other side, our
+men could not surround the enemy or attack them in the rear; and as
+there was not sufficient cover for them to go down the slope without
+great loss, in order to drive the enemy by force from their positions,
+the burghers remained 'rock-fast' in their positions, and made no
+progress at all. Thus, the enemy would either get reinforcements from
+Pretoria or escape when it got dark. Both our flanks kept up a constant
+fire on the slopes, and on the white kopje, but the shoulders were too
+high for a proper aim, and the khakies lay fast behind the boulders and
+in the clefts of the rocks.
+
+Captain Kirsten, with about ten men, was ordered by General Coetzee to
+hold a position to the right of the white kopje, and prevent the enemy
+from taking it. This position consisted of a small rise, from which we
+could fire at the kopje with a sight of 550 paces. To the right of this
+rise, at a distance of 80 paces, was a small kloof overgrown with
+bushes, and on the other side of the kloof ran a reef of rocks in the
+direction of the white kopje. Here some of the burghers had before our
+arrival forced eleven khakies to surrender, but they had not succeeded
+in occupying the position, as some khakies had remained in the kloof,
+and had shouted to them that they would not surrender. We were therefore
+warned against that kloof. But while the others were shooting at the
+enemy on the white kopje, one of our men went by himself to see if there
+really were any khakies left there. He kept under cover wherever he
+could--behind the rocks and behind the walls of an old kraal--and came
+close up to the kloof without being fired at. On the other side, at a
+distance of fifty paces, he heard a wounded man groaning and begging for
+water; but, as he was alone, he did not venture to cross the kloof. He
+returned to his comrades, but they would pay no attention to his request
+to cross, as they thought the enemy were only waiting until more men
+came under fire before they began firing.
+
+We continued shooting at the white kopje, from which the enemy were
+firing at us. The Captain had a good telescope, through which he could
+distinctly see the faces of the enemy on the kopje. If a khaki showed
+himself from behind a rock, the Captain pointed him out to one of our
+marksmen, Alec Boshoff, who studied the position through the telescope,
+and took such good aim that the Captain declared he could see the blood
+on the wounded man's face.
+
+The burgher who had gone to the kloof tried to persuade the rest to
+cross with him to the other side, as he was sure the enemy were not
+inclined to make any resistance there. At length, after twelve, he went
+with two others to the opposite side, but first told a few of the best
+marksmen to keep an eye on the reef. They crossed the kloof very
+cautiously. It was dangerous work, as a shot might come at any moment
+from behind one of the numerous shrubs or boulders. But they did not
+advance in an unbroken line. Every time they sought cover behind a rock,
+from which they watched to see whether the enemy would make their
+appearance. They did not all three advance at the same time, either, but
+first one and then the other. Whenever they had advanced a few steps,
+they stopped to ask the wounded man, who lay groaning there, whether he
+was alone. When they reached him they put some grass under his head, and
+gave him some brandy from a flask that they always carried with them.
+The poor man lay in a pool of blood on a rock under some shrubs. He had
+been shot through the leg. His name was Lieutenant Pilkington.
+
+The wounded man took hold of the hands of one of the burghers and begged
+him to stay with him. He, however, considered it his duty to advance,
+but first assured the poor man that the burghers who were following
+could also speak English, and would look after him. Most of our men
+followed the three. The rocks and boulders on the reef that we were
+climbing afforded us splendid cover from the enemy on the white kopje.
+
+To our left we found some more wounded. My brother took charge of one
+with a ghastly wound in his head. We made some prisoners there, who were
+too cowardly to defend themselves. A few of our comrades took them down.
+We could notice by the guns and rugs that were lying about that the
+enemy had fled in a panic, or else we should never have ventured to do
+what we did later on.
+
+We could fire at the enemy from a much shorter distance now, but were
+not yet in their rear. It was necessary that we should occupy the next
+position--a reef running parallel to the reef we were climbing, at a
+distance of eighty paces. But it was impossible to take that position,
+as our guns were firing bomb after bomb from the valley at our back,
+somewhat to the left of us, so that the stones flew up in the air. We
+also ran the risk of being taken for khakies, as our men knew nothing of
+our venture. The Captain sent down a message to tell them to stop
+shelling that position, as we wished to take it. Meanwhile, we kept on
+firing at the white kopje, and the khakies kept on firing at us.
+
+I went back to the wounded officer, who was being looked after by the
+Captain. While we were standing talking, he died from loss of blood. Oh
+the cruel brutality of war! The poor man was not dead five minutes when
+we sat smoking his cigarettes.
+
+We moved slightly more to the left towards the boulders. Khaki was on
+the one side, we on the other. Some of our men had a most original and
+amusing way of getting at the khakies. 'Come out, you rabbits, come out
+of your holes, else we'll shoot down the lot of you!' Then the poor
+things answered: 'We're afraid to come out. You'll kill us!' They really
+thought we would shoot them down if they surrendered. The officers had
+lost all control over the soldiers. Later on, at Nooit Gedacht, where
+_we_ had cover as well as the enemy, it was proved that as soon as the
+officers lose control over the men they remain lying behind the rocks
+without firing a shot, as they are too frightened to expose themselves.
+Most of them still had their bandoliers full of cartridges--there, too,
+when they surrendered.
+
+Before the war the English used to say they would fight us in our own
+way, from behind rocks; but they forgot that as soon as an officer,
+having to seek cover himself, fails to keep his eye on his men, they are
+too cowardly to lift their heads from behind the rocks, as they are not
+fighting for their independence. On a field like Selikatsnek we are by
+far the better men.
+
+To get the khakies from behind the rocks, one of our men ran as hard as
+he could to a rock in their neighbourhood, and aimed at them. Then some
+of them threw down their guns and put up their hands. Others surrendered
+more calmly. So he sometimes made five or six of them surrender without
+their having fired a single shot at him. A shower of bullets always came
+from the white kopje, but, as his movements were quick and unexpected,
+they could not take proper aim at him. One of the khakies said as he
+surrendered: 'It is better to surrender than to be a dead man.' Another:
+'Just fancy, in the hands of the Boers! I wonder what poor mother 'll
+say!'
+
+Meanwhile the gunners had received the Captain's report, and ceased
+bombarding the reef that we wanted to storm. As it was getting late and
+there was no other means, one of our men ran forward as hard as he
+could, making use of every small covering, while the rest kept firing at
+the white kopje to prevent the enemy from taking a proper aim at him.
+There were not many khakies behind that reef, neither did they fire at
+him. The rest of us followed at intervals, while those who arrived at
+the reef again fired at the white kopje to cover the others.
+
+The few khakies who surrendered at the reef we first disarmed, and then
+we allowed them to seek cover behind the rocks from the bullets of their
+friends. From that position we could see the enemy from the rear. In the
+narrow road, at a distance of about 150 paces from us, stood an
+ammunition waggon with splendid horses harnessed in it; there was no
+room for them to turn to draw away the waggon. A few khakies showed
+themselves next to the waggon, but were immediately shot down. A little
+further on an ambulance waggon, also inspanned, stood against the kopje;
+one could distinctly see how the empty litter was carried up and
+brought down again with some of the wounded. Once a man walked next to
+the litter as it was carried down; I pointed him out to my brother, as I
+suspected his motive. I was right. Just by the ambulance waggon he
+disappeared in a donga leading to the valley. My brother, who was a
+little higher up the reef than I was, could not hit him, as he appeared
+again only for a moment. He was most likely a despatch-rider who went to
+warn the guard at Commandonek to retreat.
+
+Further on there were some horses to be seen, and a little further still
+the small tents of which the camps consisted. We kept up a constant
+fire, but the enemy seemed to have sufficient cover on the kopje--and
+they were very obstinate. For some time the firing from the shoulders of
+the pass ceased, and in the dark shadow between the high mountains we
+for a moment had the feeling that we had been deserted by our men--only
+for a moment, for we knew it could not be! The game was in our hands.
+
+The sun sank lower, and we felt if the enemy were not soon compelled, to
+surrender they would escape in the dark. There was still one position
+which must be taken--the last reef, to which most of the enemy had
+retired from the position we now occupied. One of our men, therefore,
+let the other six fire a salvo at the kopje, and ran as hard as he could
+to a rock at a distance of twenty-five paces ahead, about halfway to the
+last reef. But now both the enemy and our own burghers, under Commandant
+Coetzee, fired at him so persistently that he was thankful to reach the
+rock. He lay there as still as possible, with his gaze fixed on the
+reef--as he lay without cover on that side. It was a most critical
+moment.
+
+Fortunately he heard, almost at once, one of his comrades, Van Zulch,
+call out 'Oh, the white flag! Hullo, the white flag!' and he saw them
+climbing down. He lay still a moment longer to convince himself of the
+fact, and then calmly went to the last reef, where many khakies
+surrendered--and he descended with them. Now the rest of the burghers
+came running along from all directions to disarm the enemy in the
+dusk--and to take what booty there was to be had. In their eagerness to
+get as much booty as possible, they allowed an officer, Major Scobel,
+to escape.
+
+As I arrived rather late on the battlefield, I cannot give any account
+of the order in which De la Rey placed his men, neither do I know the
+number of the enemy's dead and wounded, nor how many lives our victory
+cost us. I have never seen any official report concerning this battle.
+Field-Cornet Van Zulch, who with Commandant Boshoff, took the officers
+to Machadodorp, and who is at present a fellow-prisoner, tells me that
+three officers--Colonel Roberts, Lieutenants Davis and Lyall--and 210
+soldiers of the Lincolnshire Regiment were taken prisoners, and that
+four companies of the Scots Greys had early that morning escaped with
+two guns. Our loss, both dead and wounded, was not more than thirteen or
+fourteen men. The enemy had made a stubborn resistance, judging from the
+number of dead and wounded that were lying on the field. Of the seven of
+us who forced the enemy to surrender by attacking them in the rear, not
+one was injured, although we were the attacking party. They say that the
+khaki prisoners whom we left on the reef remained there all night, and
+came down the following morning with little white flags made of the
+bandages that a soldier always carries with him, tied to twigs.
+
+
+
+
+VI
+
+GUERILLA LIFE ON THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS--NARROW ESCAPE OF PRESIDENT
+STEYN AND GENERAL DE WET.
+
+Commandant Boshoff had been ordered to take the prisoners to
+Machadodorp. He left my brother and me with Captain Kirsten, who had to
+reconnoitre in the direction of Rustenburg along the Magalies Mountains.
+We first of all passed through Commandonek, and found that deserted by
+the enemy. We had no adventures on our way to Rustenburg.
+
+The Rustenburgers, who had nearly all laid down their arms and taken the
+oath of neutrality, took courage when they saw De la Rey's big commando,
+and joined us one and all.
+
+Then we recognised a great fault in the character of our people. Without
+the slightest compunction, they first fail in loyalty to their own
+country, and then break the oath of neutrality, although the enemy had
+in no single respect violated their part of the contract. Some of them
+we, in a way, forced to join us, as we took the guns and horses of the
+unwilling ones or of those who acted at all in a suspicious way. We also
+called them traitors. But most of the burghers joined us of their own
+free will. Many had not taken the oath of neutrality, as they had been
+beyond the reach of the enemy; others had, after Lord Roberts'
+threatening proclamations, ridden over to the enemy to give up their
+arms, but had given up their old rifles and kept the Mausers for
+'eventualities,' to use the now historical word of Sir Alfred Milner.
+
+A few of the oath-breakers tried to excuse themselves by the Jesuit plea
+that either they did not mean what they swore or else they had purposely
+changed the form of the oath. In judging those who broke the oath of
+neutrality later on, we must remember that the enemy did not keep to
+their part of the contract, and so our men were justified in considering
+it as null and void, and, according to William Stead, their forcing us
+to take the oath of neutrality was against the Geneva Convention. But it
+is too difficult a question for me to discuss.
+
+When the enemy, a few days later, drove us from Olifantsnek, General de
+la Rey sent Captain Kirsten with twenty men to the neighbouring kopjes
+to prevent the enemy from going on a plundering expedition. Then I for
+the first time saw a farm-house burnt down by the enemy. From a high
+kopje, by the aid of a telescope, we could distinctly see the movements
+of the khakies. The bitter feeling that was roused in us in our
+helplessness is not to be described.
+
+General Baden-Powell was in Rustenburg, and Magatonek was also in
+possession of the enemy.
+
+It was a most interesting and adventurous time that we spent near the
+Magalies Mountains. By day we went reconnoitring along the hills near
+the mountains in the direction of Olifantsnek, and towards evening we
+withdrew into the thick woods of the kloofs, where it was delightfully
+warm both for ourselves and for our horses. When a small number of the
+enemy came in our direction, we fired at them unexpectedly from the
+hills, and so protected the farm-houses on the mountain-sides.
+Occasionally the khakies ventured a little nearer, but always had to
+retreat in disorder.
+
+I once nearly fell into the hands of the enemy. As we were reconnoitring
+on one of the kopjes, I suggested to a friend that we should go to the
+farm in front of us, where none of us had been since Olifantsnek was in
+possession of the enemy. We had to ford a donga closed in by barbed
+wire. When we got to the farm, we were told that the enemy had not been
+there, with the exception of a khaki who had lost his way. He had taken
+six eggs from a nest in a kraal and swallowed them greedily, and had
+then passed on to the garden without speaking a word to the harmless,
+inquisitive women of the farm.
+
+For safety's sake I put the boys on guard and had the horses tied. The
+view was so enclosed on all sides that the enemy could appear most
+unexpectedly from Olifantsnek. We had been there only a short time, when
+we were told that the enemy were coming in large numbers from the
+direction of Rustenburg. We mounted at once and rode back, but could
+not get back to our comrades on the hills because of the barbed wire in
+the donga. We had gone only about 250 paces along the drift, when the
+enemy came riding along. Fortunately, they were intent on plunder and
+did not see us, as they kept their eyes fixed in the direction of the
+house. If we had been a few seconds later we should have fallen into
+their hands. The few burghers on the kopjes began to fire at them, and
+when I got to the top of one of the kopjes I saw the enemy--about 100 in
+number--fleeing in great disorder. This expedition cost them several
+dead and wounded, besides their plunder--meal, fowls, and other
+things--that they dropped in their flight.
+
+When I went back to the farm later on, I was told that one of the girls
+had clapped her hands with delight when the enemy fled past them. That
+must have been the reason why she and her family were so cruelly
+insulted and plundered by the khakies afterwards. We met with great
+kindness during our stay in the Magalies Mountains. We always got
+something to eat, and towards evening we bought some loaves of bread to
+take back with us to our hiding-place. In those days we could always
+get forage for our horses, and they were in very good condition.
+
+Meanwhile General de la Rey had gone with a commando to the west of
+Rustenburg, and had left two Commandants in the Zwartkoppen, to the
+north-east of Rustenburg.
+
+When we got the tidings that the enemy had taken possession of
+Selikatsnek, we went as rapidly as we could to the Zwartkoppen. We had
+many adventures on our way. My brother and I rode on ahead, thinking
+that the others would follow, but they went a round-about way, and so
+did not catch us up. When we left the wide tract of wood that stretches
+along the Magalies Mountains, we noticed that the enemy from Rustenburg
+had come to meet the column from Selikatsnek. Fortunately, our horses
+were good, and we escaped the danger by riding back into the wood to a
+farm that I knew of. While we were giving our horses a rest there, a
+despatch-rider came along looking for a reconnoitring corps. We rode
+with him in the track of our comrades, who had taken a great circuit
+round Rustenburg. We arrived safely at Zwartkoppen, and immediately
+joined Commandant Boshoff, who had just returned from Machadodorp.
+
+The Commandants now followed General de la Rey. We came up with his
+commando to the west of Rustenburg, where he had surrounded a party of
+the enemy. Commandant Boshoff, however, was immediately sent to
+Olifantsnek, as the enemy had left Rustenburg and the pass was clear.
+Our men were most changeable in their moods. The slightest favourable
+tidings raised their spirits, but any unfavourable news made their
+courage sink into their shoes. There was much talk about the retreating
+movement of the enemy. Some spoke of intervention; others said the
+English soldiers had refused to fight any longer, or that the whole of
+the colony was in rebellion. This talk went the round even among the
+officers, probably because they did not understand the enemy's
+movements.
+
+Now we know the meaning of it all. It was De Wet who was being followed.
+We were not two days at Olifantsnek, when, to our great surprise, De Wet
+arrived with a commando of 2,800 men, followed by 40,000 English. He
+had been by treason separated along with Steyn from the chief commando,
+and had been chased by the enemy a month already.
+
+It was a great lager that advanced through Olifantsnek--the largest
+commando that we had seen yet, with numerous carts, waggons, beasts of
+burden, and other belongings. And it was then I made the acquaintance of
+President Steyn and De Wet. Our Commandant with his men accompanied
+President Steyn to Machadodorp to President Kruger. We put up our tents
+for the time being next to those of President Steyn, so that we had time
+and opportunity enough to learn to know him. When the enemy a few days
+later broke through at Magatonek, to the west of Rustenburg, General De
+Wet sent for me one evening and ordered me to take a report to
+Rustenburg, and gave me some instructions for the Commandants there.
+
+I had to take a message for President Steyn also, that the ambulance of
+the Orange Free State was to follow the lager in the direction of the
+Krokodil River.
+
+Late at night I arrived at Rustenburg, only to find that the lagers had
+already taken flight. The enemy were expected at any moment. But the
+ambulance was there still, and all night long I led it in the direction
+the General had told me the lagers would take.
+
+Late the following morning I arrived at De Wet's lager, which had moved
+a few hours further on to Sterkstroom. The commando left there that
+afternoon, and went along the Magalies Mountains to Commandonek. That
+day and that night we had a first experience of the long tiresome
+marches that enabled De Wet to mislead the enemy.
+
+That night President Steyn made a most favourable impression on us with
+his talk. He did not try to encourage us with hopes of intervention, but
+merely pointed out that the war might last a long time still, and that
+we would have to enter the Colony.
+
+At Commandonek we rested a few hours while De Wet himself went to
+reconnoitre. He sent a message to the English officer in charge of the
+pass that he must surrender. The officer replied that he did not quite
+understand _who_ must surrender--he or De Wet. I think this was merely a
+dodge on De Wet's part to find out by the signature of the reply who
+was in charge of the army at the pass, and so to make a guess at the
+numbers of the enemy.
+
+He decided not to attack the pass, and before daybreak next day we were
+on the move again. Some time afterwards at Warmbad I heard that an
+English General had related this dodge of De Wet's, but he thought De
+Wet had threatened him with a very small force, as his commando must
+still have been at Olifantsnek. It is an example of the way we misled
+the enemy by our mobility.
+
+
+
+
+VII
+
+WITH PRESIDENT STEYN TO PRESIDENT KRUGER
+
+
+Near Krokodil River, on Carlyle's Farm, President Steyn and his
+attendants separated from De Wet's commando, and went in the direction
+of Zoutpan to Machadodorp. We were about seventy-five men in all. The
+little commando consisted of carts, a few trolleys, and horsemen on
+strong, well-conditioned horses. The Free Staters nearly all had one or
+two spare horses. Our own commando still always consisted of twelve or
+thirteen men, and the small ambulance waggon which we used for
+provisions. The French doctor had remained behind with De la Rey. We
+moved very fast. At Zoutpan--a sunken kopje like the mouth of a crater,
+with a pan at the bottom, from which the salt is got--I met some old
+acquaintances, who pretended to have come there for salt. During our
+talk my suspicions were roused by their curiosity, and by their
+knowledge of President Steyn's arrival. I also doubted their tale that
+their trolley stood behind a kopje, and not at Zoutpan, and I warned the
+Commandant against them. He became very anxious, and made us move on as
+rapidly as possible, for once we had crossed the Pienaars River all
+danger from khaki would be past. It was a good thing that the Commandant
+made us travel so fast, for we had only just outspanned at Pienaars
+River the following morning when the khakies' bomb-Maxim began firing at
+the outposts of General Grobler's Waterberg commando, which was
+stationed there. We had only just time to inspan and ride off to the
+Boschveld, towards the Olifants River, where we would be safe, while
+General Grobler disappeared in the direction of Warmbad.
+
+At Pienaars River I made the acquaintance of General Celliers, who was
+loudly proclaiming the way in which he would squash khaki if only the
+burghers would fight. He is the exception to the rule that all braggarts
+are cowards. Most of the braggarts have gradually disappeared from the
+scene, but the deeds of this hero were always in accordance with his
+words.
+
+We heard afterwards that a detachment of the enemy had followed us, but
+we had had too great a start, and had besides taken a short-cut of which
+they knew nothing. It would not have been easy for the khakies to
+overtake a well-mounted commando like President Steyn's.
+
+We were also told that the enemy knew of the arrival of President Steyn,
+which strengthened my belief that the two suspicious characters at
+Zoutpan were the informers. Whenever we, as the attacking party, made
+prisoners, they always declared that they had known all about our plan
+of attack--probably to discourage us with the thought that through the
+treachery of our own people the enemy always knew all about our
+movements.
+
+For a long way we followed the same road that we had taken with
+Commandant Boshoff to Rustenburg. We arrived safely at Waterval-Boven
+(President Kruger having already retreated from Machadodorp), where we
+stayed a few days and heard the famous Battle of Dalmanutha (August
+27)--the most awful roar of cannon that I have ever heard.
+
+From Waterval-Boven we went to Nelspruit, to which President Kruger had
+moved in his railway-home. We gave our horses a week's rest and passed
+the time fishing and hunting. We were content there, as we got plenty to
+eat, and our horses, too, were well fed--an important matter to us just
+then. Circumstances were forcing us to attach much value to all sorts of
+trifles that we would formerly not even have noticed.
+
+If once one has suffered the pangs of hunger, one learns to value the
+comfort and luxury of home; and if one has wandered about for weeks
+without seeing woman or child, one learns to appreciate their gentleness
+and charm and to understand Schiller's Züchtige Hausfrau in 'Das Lied
+von der Glocke.' How often in our wanderings we longed for good
+literature during our long, tiring, monotonous rides! And how terrible
+was the thought of the moral hurt we were suffering--voluntarily in a
+way, yet forced to it by a sense of honour and duty. For in this lay the
+grievousness of the war, that a powerful nation--influenced by a few
+unscrupulous leaders--was trying to annihilate a small nation that
+demanded the right of existence, and was therefore forced to defend that
+right. It was a happy time for us when we had the opportunity of turning
+our thoughts towards literature and other things than commando work.
+
+The privations that we had already endured were small indeed in
+comparison to those which awaited us. It was well with the Uitlander
+optimist who remained in our country while the Republics could give him
+the comforts he demanded as his right, but who, as soon as things went
+wrong, and he saw nothing but misery in the future, left for his own
+country--there to sit in judgment on our peasant-nation. How I long for
+the gift of being able to express myself, to give a true account of the
+self-denial of our burghers and of the misery that we endured! How my
+heart bleeds when I think of the great sorrow that has come upon my poor
+people!
+
+When the enemy approached the Delagoa railway-line, President Steyn left
+with his escort for Hectorspruit. I had to follow with a trolley for
+which there was no room on the train. Because of the disorder that
+reigned everywhere I had to wait nearly three days before I could start.
+I was pretty nearly famished on my arrival at Hectorspruit, and ate
+greedily of the remains of the porridge left by some burghers, among
+whom were two sons of State Secretary Reitz. President Steyn's lager had
+in the meanwhile become 250 men strong, under Commandant Lategan, and
+was then at Krokodil River.
+
+At Nelspruit I met a couple of old friends, Malherbe and Celliers, with
+whom I left for the lager. They were both Transvaalers who had been
+studying in Holland, but had returned before finishing their studies on
+account of the war. The commando was well supplied with weapons and
+ammunition, as the Delagoa Bay line brought plenty to our store. What
+became of the rest I do not know, as President Steyn was in a hurry and
+our commando left first for the North.
+
+The ford at Krokodil River was about fifty paces wide--made for the
+occasion and difficult to cross. The trolleys and waggons that had to
+cross to the lager on the opposite side gave us much trouble, as they
+sank deep into the sand. We harnessed a double span of oxen to the
+waggons, undressed ourselves, and had to swim alongside the animals to
+get them through. Occasionally something dropped from one of the waggons
+and had to be fished up in a hurry to save it from the strong current.
+There was much shouting and laughter, and if any crocodile had been in
+the neighborhood he would have suppressed his hunger until the storm was
+over.
+
+On the banks of the river there was a constant shooting at fish and game,
+and even at crocodiles, who showed themselves occasionally. There was
+game in abundance. It seemed as if all the game of the Transvaal, that
+is becoming so scarce, had fled to this part.
+
+We were on our way to Pietersburg through the Boschveld of South-East
+Lydenburg, which might be called a desert in winter. It was a journey
+difficult even for a trek Boer, and more than difficult for a large
+commando. A man called Bester was our guide. Some two years before he
+had made the same journey on a hunting expedition, and now he was able
+to follow the ruts which the wheels of his waggon had made then, and
+which would be in all probability deepened by the summer rains. Our
+means of transport were chiefly carts and trolleys, on which we also put
+our bedding to lighten the burden of our riding horses.
+
+
+
+
+VIII
+
+WITH PRESIDENT STEYN IN THE BOSCHVELD--LOST
+
+
+On September 12 we left the Krokodil River early in the morning, after
+first watering our cattle and filling our water-bags. Our guide did not
+expect to come across any water before the Sabie--a river several days'
+journey further on. There were several springs on the way, but as that
+part of the country was so little known, because of its unhealthiness,
+no one could tell when the last rains had fallen.
+
+The shrubs and bushes had grown high above the ruts made by the waggon
+two years ago, and were a great hindrance to us. The road we followed
+twisted and wound rather more than was agreeable, but it was certainly
+easy to follow for the lagers that came after us. The horsemen rode next
+to the lagers to shoot bucks. We had no 'slaughter-cattle' with us, so
+had to live on the game that we shot.
+
+In the neighbourhood of the river we still came across birds and
+insects, but the further we went the more monotonous and _dead_ Nature
+became. I could never have pictured such a lifeless wood to myself. No
+sound of insects was to be heard, no chirp or song of bird; and not even
+the trail of a serpent was to be seen.
+
+There was a melancholy stillness. Traces of game were in abundance. It
+seemed as if only those animals lived there which, accustomed to the
+monotonous silence, withdrew noiselessly from the gaze of the
+interloper, or, in their ignorant curiosity, stood still until a
+hunter's bullet warned them or put an end to their lives. To them we
+must have been strange disturbers of the peace. Shots fell in all
+directions; sometimes a whole salvo was discharged when we came upon a
+herd of bucks. There were many thornless trees growing in their stately
+height far above the usual scrub of the Boschveld. Our horses often
+grazed on the sweet buffalo grass that always grows under trees. Looked
+at from a rise, the Boschveld appeared to be nothing but trees--trees
+as far as the eye could see. One shuddered at the thought of what would
+become of anyone who lost his way there, since for miles and miles there
+was no water to be seen and no trail to go by. It made one hurry back to
+the safety of the lager, trusting to the capability of the guide.
+
+To our great joy, the first spring contained water. It was a large pool
+surrounded by rocks, where the game was accustomed to drink. We arrived
+there towards afternoon, rested a few hours, and continued our journey
+with fresh courage. As the waggons moved too slowly for our liking, we
+rode on ahead; but the consequence was that, when it got dark and we
+off-saddled, we had no bedding, for nearly all the waggons were obliged
+to outspan when darkness set in, as there was no road.
+
+We knee-haltered our horses in case there were lions about, and
+collected a large quantity of wood to keep the fire going all night.
+That night our talk, of course, ran upon lion-hunting and shooting
+expeditions. Then we crept as close to the fire as possible, and were
+soon in a troubled, or untroubled, sleep, dreaming of lions and other
+wild animals. But I felt the cold very much, and could not sleep without
+my rug, and kept turning from side to side to get as much warmth from
+the fire as possible. If only I had made two fires! In a battle I have
+been between two fires, and did not find it at all agreeable, but in
+this case it would have been different.
+
+I lay awake, waiting for the third fire, the red dawn, but not in a
+poetical mood. There is a time for everything; that I learnt during the
+war. Rain is lovely, and cold gives energy, but one must be warm to
+appreciate it. As I lay thus, four mules, tethered together, came closer
+and closer up to our fire, grazing all the while. I lay still, listening
+to the peculiar noise made by the biting off of each mouthful of grass.
+I seemed to expect a joke, and suddenly one of the mules fell on his
+back. In a moment all our heroes were up and ready to defend themselves
+against lions or khakies, according to their different dreams. I
+laughed, and laughed again, so that the hyenas could hear me a mile off,
+and the startled lion-hunters began to laugh also, so that we woke up
+the whole camp. This little episode made my blood circulate, so that I
+very soon also was in the land of dreams.
+
+As the burghers chased all the game on ahead of the lager, the President
+and Commandant Boshoff agreed to go in advance, so as to have a chance
+of seeing the numerous kinds of wild buck and larger game. I went with
+them. Greatly to my distress I forgot to ask our guide what direction we
+would take that day with regard to the sun. An experienced hunter would
+not have forgotten it, as he knows from experience that in the
+excitement of the chase we often leave the beaten track. I had to pay
+dearly for my forgetfulness. I rode some distance to the left of the
+President, but took care to keep him in sight. But the Boer is
+wonderfully disobedient to any authority, and not long after two men
+made their appearance to my left, and I saw that if I did not look out
+they would be ahead of me in no time, and chase all the game away from
+me. As the donga next to which we rode seemed to be a favourite resort
+for game, I took the same direction as they did, more to the left. The
+dongas ran into each other with numerous bends and curves, and were
+sometimes overgrown with high grass, then again quite bare. I paid no
+attention to the direction we took.
+
+After a while one of the men wounded a buck, and they both rode into the
+donga after it. I rode on, to cross the donga a little further on, so as
+not to have to follow in the track of the other two, and saw a red buck
+on the other side, which I wounded so badly that it seemed unnecessary
+to fire again, and I rode leisurely towards it. But when I had crossed
+the donga the buck had disappeared, and I began to seek for the traces
+of blood, but I soon had to give up the search, not to lose sight of the
+other two men. They, however, seemed to be a great distance off, as I
+did not overtake them, and I did not succeed in tracing them in the
+direction that the wounded buck had led them, as the track in the grass
+was invisible to my inexperienced eye.
+
+I rode back to the donga, and deliberated on the course to take. In all
+directions I heard shots, right and left, but I stood irresolute. I had
+no watch with me to find the four quarters of the wind, but the sun had
+only just risen, and I made a guess with an imaginary compass. It was
+lucky for me that I made such a good guess, and had paid great attention
+to the direction we had taken with regard to the sun. I was certain that
+I should come upon the traces of the lager if only I kept within the
+sides of a right angle, unless the lager had at the start taken a sharp
+turn to the right or left.
+
+But it was possible that in our excitement we might have crossed the
+waggon track which the lager was to follow; then the lager would be far
+to the right. Standing thus like the ass between two bundles of hay, I
+was not in the mood to think lightly of my case, but had to act at once,
+so I chose the safest and more probable of the two sides of my right
+angle--namely, the left, as I would then in any case not be moving
+towards Portuguese territory, and could always turn to the Krokodil
+River.
+
+I felt pretty certain now, as it was more probable that we had not
+crossed the old waggon tract, and every moment I expected to hear the
+switching of the long whips. But when I had gone some distance I was
+obliged to return to the donga, and retrace my way to the place where we
+had slept. A clever Boer would have succeeded in finding the way back,
+but I soon lost my way altogether. I lost the traces of the horse's
+hoofs, and the dongas looked to me so different that in one place where
+a donga branched off I did not know which to follow. An intense feeling
+of desolation took possession of me. Lost in a wilderness without food
+or water! I thought of the twelve or thirteen men who got lost in this
+wood on a hunting expedition, and of whom only one was saved. A great
+fear came upon me. Gradually I became calmer, and tried to form some
+plan of action. I resolved to keep to the left, where I had already seen
+a solitary mountain. Perhaps water was to be found there.
+
+My gun was loaded with Dum-Dum bullets, specially prepared for bucks. I
+had filed through the steel to the lead, so that the bullet would expand
+at once when it came into contact with bone. I found a buck tame in its
+very wildness, but I missed it, for the aim of my gun, a fine sporting
+Mauser, had been bent by the branches of the trees. It was a good thing
+that I did not come across a lion, or, rather, that a lion did not come
+across me.
+
+I had to ride under trees, through shrubs and grass, and had to keep a
+sharp look-out, as the king of beasts sometimes takes the lords of
+creation unawares. And I had to look out for an opportunity to shoot a
+buck--the only food within my reach. The nearer I came to the mountain,
+the surer I was that I had lost my way completely, and the more I became
+reconciled to my fate. I planned how I should build a large fire in the
+night for myself and my horse, and how I should defend myself against a
+lion with a burning piece of wood.
+
+Suddenly my horse went faster and pushed to the left. Greatly to my
+astonishment, I saw that the attraction was a little stream of water
+that he had scented in a donga. I off-saddled, and let my horse graze in
+the luxuriant grass.
+
+Now I was strengthened in my belief that I had taken the wrong
+direction, for we were all under the impression that we should not soon
+reach water. I prepared some more Dum-Dum bullets with a small file that
+I carried in my pocket, and did not let my horse graze long, but
+hastened to the mountain to find a better shelter for the night. To my
+great joy, I came upon the wide road about a thousand paces further on.
+I followed the road along the mountain for half an hour, when I came
+upon the lager, camped near a stream--probably the same stream at which
+I and my horse had quenched our thirst.
+
+As we sat round our fires that night we heard shots fired in the
+distance from the direction that we had come. Some men were sent out
+immediately, and returned after a while with a man quite exhausted from
+hunger and thirst, and paralyzed with fear; he had been unable to
+overtake the lager.
+
+
+
+
+IX
+
+PRACTICAL HINTS--ADVENTURE ON THE SABIE--NORTH OF LYDENBURG
+
+
+Experience teaches us. The knowledge that we have gained in this war we
+must pass on to the coming generation. It may be of use in a war of the
+future, or on some other occasion. Therefore Oom Dietlof will take this
+opportunity to give his nephews in South Africa some practical hints
+that may be of use to a burgher in his travels or in a war. If anyone
+loses his way in the same way that I have just described, he must
+remember the following way of finding the four quarters of the wind:
+
+The small hand of a watch describes a circle in twelve hours, while the
+apparent movement of the sun round the earth is in twenty-four hours.
+The movement of the small hand is therefore twice as fast as that of
+the sun. If one points the small hand of a horizontal-lying watch to the
+sun at twelve o'clock, then the hands and the figure XII. lie in the
+meridian as well as the sun.
+
+In the northern half-circle the sun and the hands move in the same
+direction. In one hour's time the small hand goes a distance of 360°/12
+= 30°, and the sun goes a distance of 360°/24 = 15°. If at one o'clock
+one points the small hand of a horizontal-lying watch to the sun, the
+line that divides the acute angle between the figures I. and XII. lies
+in the meridian. So one can always find the meridian.
+
+In the southern half-circle the sun and hands move in opposite
+directions, therefore one must point the figure XII. to the sun, and
+then divide the acute angle between the figure XII. and the small hand
+to find the meridian.
+
+In this way one can at any time find out the direction one has taken.
+But everyone has not always a good watch, and the sun sometimes hides
+behind the clouds. Then it is better to have a good compass--but better
+still not to lose one's way.
+
+Besides such simple articles as a pocket-knife, a water-bag, etc.,
+which are indispensable to a traveller in our country, everyone ought to
+carry with him a good plaster, a nosebag, and some snake poison; maize
+(mealies) for his horse, the cheapest and most strengthening food that
+we know of, can always be carried in the nosebag. Snake poison prepared
+by a good Kaffir doctor is the only cure for snake-bites or the bite of
+any poisonous insect. The Kaffirs prepare it from some (to us) unknown
+shrub, and from the poison of the most venomous snake, which they make
+into a powder. This powder is used as an antidote by swallowing a small
+dose--enough to cover the point of a pocket-knife--and also by applying
+some to the bite, after first having cut an opening into the bitten part
+with a pocket-knife. Some people protect themselves against the poison
+of a snake-bite by regularly swallowing some of the poison and
+vaccinating themselves with it. One can even protect one's self in this
+way against the bite of the poisonous file-snake of the Boschveld--a
+snake the shape of a three-cornered file, sometimes from 3 to 4 feet
+long. It is a fact that the person whose body is proof against the
+poison of a snake-bite is never bitten, as he is feared by snakes.
+Formerly I doubted it, but I have myself seen people who have made
+themselves proof against a bite in this way, and I have also heard it
+from people in whom I have the utmost faith.
+
+Alcohol is also a good antidote, provided one takes it immediately and
+in such quantities that it goes to the head. I would recommend everyone
+always to take a small quantity of brandy with him on commando, if
+experience had not taught me that some take even a mosquito-bite as an
+excuse to 'take a drop,' and I am against that on principle.
+
+Often while loading my horse the thought struck me whether the poor
+brute ever had a wish to protest, 'Surely this is becoming too bad!' and
+that reminds me that one must be very careful not to overload. The
+knapsack must not be filled with kaboe mealies (roasted maize) for one's
+self, while the nosebag of the poor horse remains empty.
+
+More than one prisoner of war has bitterly regretted that he did not
+take his horse's power of endurance into greater consideration. Now I
+must take up the thread of my tale.
+
+The following morning the lager would start at three o'clock, and, as
+my horse was in good condition, the owner of the horse that had been
+left behind asked me to fetch it before the lager left. He explained to
+me where I would find it tied to a tree about half an hour's ride from
+the lager, so I started with a friend at about two o'clock at night. On
+the way we came across a mule that had wandered away while grazing,
+ignorant of all the danger he was exposing himself to in the uninhabited
+Boschveld. The creature gave us much trouble by refusing to be caught
+and constantly dodging behind a tree, so we lost a great deal of time.
+On our way back, close to the lager, we heard the whine of the wild-dog,
+the well-known feared wolf. We thought it very interesting to come
+across a wild animal of which we had no fear just then. But when we
+reached the camping-ground of the lager, where only the trolley stood to
+which the wandering mule belonged, we found to our surprise that both
+white men and Kaffirs had given up the search for the mule for fear of
+the wild-dog. They had all congregated round large fires. The wild-dog,
+however, is harmless by himself; like the khakies, his strength lies in
+numbers. We had to leave the sick horse to join the bucks of the
+Boschveld on its recovery, until the horse-sickness came. After a long,
+tiring, but very interesting ride we arrived at the Sabie, where the
+rest of the lager was already encamped. The Sabie is about the size of
+the Krokodil River, and its scenery of woods and valleys formed a sharp
+contrast to the deadly monotony of the Boschveld that lay behind us. We
+had crossed the bare desert and were now in a part of the country
+inhabited by Kaffirs. The following day the lager was removed half an
+hour further on, and there we remained a few days.
+
+At night four of us were persuaded to go eel-catching in a
+crocodile-pool that we had discovered a little further on. We made a
+large fire to entice the eels, and, as we were none of us great lovers
+of angling, we made a splendid bonfire, as there was plenty of dry wood
+to be had.
+
+There was something particularly attractive in these large fires on
+those quiet, dark nights of the wilderness. The glow threw a sombre
+light on the water that gave one a creepy feeling, as if a crocodile
+were on the watch for us in the water, and lions at our back between
+the large trees. What must they have thought of us?
+
+The bank of the river seemed to be about 6 feet high, and not very
+steep. We made the fire closer and closer to what seemed the bank. I saw
+someone lift up a huge branch, walk to the bank with it, and plant his
+left foot firmly on the ground. The reeds gave way beneath him. What
+seemed a firm bank, by the glow of the fire, proved to be a mass of
+reeds and grass, and the poor man fell down a height of 6 feet, his fall
+being hastened by the heavy branch he held. For a moment we stood
+irresolute. To jump after him into a crocodile-pool! But he called for
+help, and we had to act immediately. Fortunately, one acts almost
+instinctively in such cases. One of the others slid down the bank--the
+thought striking him: 'If only there are not two crocodiles!' Landing on
+a horizontal branch, he stretched out his hand to the drowning man,
+someone else took hold of his left hand, and so they were both saved. If
+a crocodile had been in the neighbourhood, he would probably have stood
+on the defensive. Such a queer, two-legged animal who led the attack in
+such a strange but decided way must have roused his respect.
+
+This piece of fun put an end to our eel-fishing. We had caught only one
+eel--and a man.
+
+The following morning there was parade for President Steyn. His speech
+to us was touching and to the point, and showed that he believed in a
+good ending to the war, if the burghers were capable of enduring such
+hardships as at present. Then he also told us in what a hurry he was to
+reach his burghers, as he was afraid that the enemy were doing all in
+their power to make them turn against him. We all liked President Steyn
+very much.
+
+On our journey through the Selatie Goldfields, past the Marietje River
+to Pilgrim's Rest, we crossed the steepest mountain that I have ever
+seen. A double span of oxen was harnessed to each waggon. The oxen were
+lent us for the occasion by the Boers living on the plateau in front of
+us. After every few steps upwards we had to put stones under the wheels
+to prevent the waggons from slipping back. It took our little lager
+nearly all day to reach the plateau. Then we had a most magnificent
+view of the Boschveld that lay behind us. In the distance the Lobombo
+Mountains were visible on the boundary of the Portuguese and Transvaal
+territory. The first rains had fallen on the plateau, so the green grass
+was a refreshing change for our eyes. The horses would be able to graze
+well, and the good feeding would soon make them lose their old coats,
+and then they would be sleek and glossy again.
+
+From the high plateau we descended, over a 'lumpy' veld, with an oasis
+here and there in a hole or valley, or on the top of a hill, to
+Pilgrim's Rest. Some miles before we reached this little town we passed
+beside the water-works that supply a strong stream of water for the
+machinery of the gold-mines. We simply stormed the shops, that were
+still well supplied with provisions, and bought all sorts of luxuries
+and necessaries for our journey. From Pilgrim's Rest we once more
+crossed a steep mountain, along a road that for length and height has
+not its equal. In the neighbourhood of Ohrigstad, a little town that we
+left to our right, I asked a Boer woman whether the fever did not make
+one's life impossible there, and I got a very naďf reply: 'No; this
+year the fever was not so bad. We all got ill, but not one of us died.'
+
+The rest of our journey to the north of Lydenburg, over Spekstroom
+River, along Watervalop, over Steenkampsberg to Roossenekal, was very
+tedious. The uninhabited Boschveld was very interesting, and we had
+sufficient provisions then, but the poor, uncivilized Boer inhabitants
+of the Lydenburg district were unable to supply us with necessaries, the
+want of which we were beginning to feel. We could not buy a loaf of
+bread anywhere. And it is anything but pleasant in a time of war to come
+across such lax and unenergetic people as they proved to be. The men
+were nearly always at home, and appeared to be discouraged and unwilling
+to fight. We had all lost our sweet tooth. That one could tell by such
+expressions as: 'Even if you give me sugar:--' But occasionally we got a
+more desirable substitute, when a beehive was discovered in a cleft of a
+rock. Some of our men are particularly clever at discovering a hive. I
+have often seen a man stand gazing up at the sky, walk on a short
+distance, and again stand gazing, and after awhile appear with a bucket
+of honey. By watching the flight of the bees they find out in what
+direction the hive is. A practised eye can see the rising and settling
+of the bees above the hive from a great distance.
+
+
+
+
+X
+
+FROM ROOSSENEKAL TO PIETERSBURG--WITH GENERAL BEYERS TO THE MAGALIES
+MOUNTAINS
+
+
+We went in a very different direction from that of General Ben Viljoen's
+commando, which took the road to Pietersburg through Leydsdorp.
+President Steyn celebrated the anniversary of his birthday at
+Roossenekal, and addressed us in the same spirit as on the former
+occasion at the Sabie.
+
+Roossenekal is famous for its caves, or grottos, in which the Mapochers
+hid themselves so well during the Mapoch War. We made use of the
+opportunity to visit the grottos, of whose formation I should like to
+know more. What appeared on the outside to be an ordinary hill proved a
+most wonderful natural building containing many rooms. The old kraal
+walls and the peach-trees and 'Turkish figs', (prickly-pears), overgrown
+by wild trees, and an occasional earthen vessel, were the remains of the
+Kaffir city. Of course we cut our names into the rocks by way of
+becoming immortal. We could not help speaking with great admiration of
+the wild Kaffir tribe who from such a hiding-place fought for months for
+a life of independence. We had no time to visit the grottos further
+away.
+
+Although our horses were well fed during this time of rest, they
+profited little, on account of the constant cold rains that fell. We
+fortunately still had some tents, that we used only in case of rain. Our
+Commandant was still always in doubt whether to proceed to Pietersburg,
+for we were quite ignorant of the enemy's movements during the last few
+weeks. Later on, when he got the information that the enemy were
+stationed at Pinaars River bridge, and that we could not with safety
+pass Warmbad and Pinaars River, we had to turn off at Kobaltmyn to the
+right to cross Olifants River lower down. We had already passed
+Kobaltmyn in the beginning of July on our journey after General de la
+Rey. The latter part of our journey, along Olifants River, through
+Zebedelsland to Pietersburg, was exhausting for man and horse. Some of
+us often had nothing but a little rice and a small piece of meat for
+several days in succession. There was scarcely any grass for our horses,
+and yet we had to ride hard night and day.
+
+After a tiring journey of fully a month, President Steyn's commando
+arrived at Pietersburg on October 11. Although we had always intended to
+follow President Steyn to De Wet, my brother and I, with Malherbe, now
+accepted an invitation from my uncle, Ignace Maré, to stay awhile on his
+farm at Marabastad. President Steyn left with his commando for
+Nylstroom. Our horses were worn out, and could not follow the commando.
+Most of the men had a spare horse that was still in good condition, and
+although my brother and I had only one horse apiece, we often had to do
+the hardest work.
+
+My aunt and uncle did their best to make our stay a pleasant one, and
+our horses were well fed. Soon General Ben Viljoen's commando arrived at
+Marabastad, and stayed there a few weeks, so that we also experienced
+the discomfort arising from a lager camped on one's farm. The Boer is
+deprived by it of all necessaries, and all sorts and conditions of men
+constantly visit his house. Some of them, the riff-raff of the commando,
+are very unwelcome guests, for they do much mischief intentionally, and
+thereby give the commando a very bad name. The poles to which the wire
+is attached for camping at a farm were yet left undamaged. The burghers
+were still accustomed to get plenty of dry wood in the Boschveld, and
+were not yet so demoralized as to work damage without scruple.
+
+We stayed at my uncle's far longer than we at first intended. My saddle
+had chafed the horse's back so severely that I could not ride it for
+several months. My brother got an attack of malaria, and just as he was
+recovering had a relapse, so that President Steyn was so far in advance
+of us that there was no question of overtaking him.
+
+The commando had already left Marabastad when we started for
+Tweefontein, near Warmbad, on our now strong, sleek horses. There we
+joined Commandant Kemp, of the Krugersdorp commando, under Wyk III., who
+had parted from Ben Viljoen at Marabastad because the latter had on a
+Sunday afternoon during service fired off several cannon-shots for the
+edification of a few fast women.
+
+Malherbe, my brother, and I formed a sort of comradeship under Corporal
+Botman--or, to put it simply, we were 'chums.' At Warmbad we heard many
+interesting things about the khakies, who had stayed there nineteen days
+on their hunt after De Wet. We could not understand why they destroyed
+the bathing-houses, unless it were to deprive our wounded of the chance
+of recovery.
+
+The condition of the people in Zoutpansberg and in Waterberg, where the
+enemy had been, was not very cheerful. Everyone complained that there
+was no sugar to be had, that the meal was getting low, and that soon
+there would be no clothes. Pietersburg was exhausted by the commandos,
+and the courage of the inhabitants was nearly at an ebb. They would not
+yet make the sacrifice that would part them from their families. The
+enemy had not yet driven them to despair by the destruction of their
+fields and goods.
+
+Every sensible person knew that the Republics would lose in the
+long-run in a guerilla war unless something unforeseen happened. At the
+time that we fled from Pretoria my mother said she would have hope as
+long as her 'gorillas' remained in the veld. Even if we clung to a
+straw, the possibility always remained that things might take a
+favourable turn as long as a fair number of burghers remained in the
+veld.
+
+The burghers from the different districts now in Waterberg were earnest
+and full of courage. Noticeable changes for the better had been made.
+Beyers, a man in whom the men had the utmost faith, was made
+Assistant-Commandant-General, and was to lead a commando of 1,500
+horsemen from Waterberg, Zoutpansberg, Krugersdorp, etc., to the
+Hoogeveld. The discipline was much stricter. Cooper and Fanie Grobler,
+who had been accused of high treason, promised to keep a sharper
+look-out for spies and traitors. And we still always hoped for an
+eventual rebellion in Cape Colony. That hope was our life-buoy on which
+we kept our eyes fixed. We felt that there our safety lay, and the
+enthusiasm of the commando was heightened by the desire to celebrate
+Paardekraal Day in Krugersdorp on December 15. As a sailor longs for the
+sea, so we longed for a meeting with the khakies when we left for the
+Magalies Mountains in the beginning of December. Our commando was light
+and mobile, with provisions for a short time only. Such heavy cannon as
+the Long Toms were of no use to us now. Hence-forward we were to live on
+the produce of the surrounding country, as there was no basis from which
+we were to operate. Besides this, the khakies very kindly made over some
+of their provisions, arms, and ammunition to us in a skirmish or battle,
+so that afterwards we had more Lee-Metfords than Mausers in our
+possession.
+
+At Krokodil River I had the privilege of seeing how a honey-bird takes a
+human being to a bees' nest. As we were lying under a tree, a honey-bird
+settled close to us. Corporal Botman followed it as it flew chirping
+from tree to tree, and called to it that he was following, until the
+bird stopped at the hive. The grateful finder always rewards the bird
+with a piece of honeycomb that he puts aside for it. But I have never
+been able to discover whether the bird or the insects eat the honey. I
+know that the 'bug-birds,' that are always seen on or near cattle, do
+not feed on the bugs with which the cattle are covered, but on the
+locusts that fly about the herd. Last week, when our guards took us for
+a walk outside the fort, I noticed that a kind of sparrow in India has
+the same trick of catching the locusts that are driven on ahead by the
+cattle.
+
+I shall not try to give a description of the works of the machinery that
+moved mechanically to the Magalies Mountains, for I should have to guess
+at the particulars in this historical little tale. Mechanical I call the
+journey, for there were days and nights in which we were numbed, body
+and soul, exhausted by hunger and thirst and want of sleep.
+
+When we were at Bethany, a convoy of the enemy was seen moving in the
+direction of Commandonek. When it noticed our guard, it dragged its
+curved body with great zeal through the pass. I think the khakies also
+must have been bored to death on those long, fruitless journeys. We left
+Bethany towards evening, and reached the Magalies Mountains the
+following morning after a tiring journey in the night past Sterkstroom,
+through the Kromriverskloof to the foot of Onuapadnek, or
+Boschfonteinnek. (I learnt the names from the inhabitants.) In the kloof
+we passed the burnt remains of the convoy that was taken by Commandant
+Boshoff--who joined De la Rey after having taken Steyn to his
+destination--and his brave little troop of burghers. They were obliged
+to abandon the convoy, however, on the arrival of reinforcements for the
+enemy. A sickening stench came from the corpses that they had left
+unburied in their flight.
+
+We rested a few hours at the top of the steep nek. On descending on the
+other side we came, to our mutual surprise, upon De la Key's lager at
+the foot of the mountain on Barnard's farm.
+
+
+
+
+XI
+
+BATTLE OF NOOITGEDACHT
+
+
+We were busy all evening baking vet-koek (a kind of scone fried in
+lard), as we had received the order to be ready to leave the following
+morning at one o'clock, and to take provisions sufficient for two
+days. Although our officers were beginning to see the advisability of
+keeping their plans secret, we were able to guess that we were going
+to attack General Clements' camp, an hour's ride further east at
+Nooitgedacht--particularly as the chances of success, in case of an
+eventual attack, were being discussed by some of the officers. The
+general opinion was that Clements' force was 5,000 strong.
+
+We left quite three-quarters of an hour later than the fixed time in the
+early morning of December 13, 1900, and recrossed the steep, narrow
+neck, took a way to our right in the Kromriverskloof, making a sharp
+turn to Elandskrans, where a strong outpost had been placed by the enemy
+on the Magalies Mountains.
+
+That was the crust through which we had to bite to get at the dainties
+of the booty. It cannot be denied that victory and booty, in our
+impoverished circumstances, were very close together in our thoughts.
+The enemy's camp lay at the foot of the long, high cliff that forms a
+precipice on that side of the mountain, while the slope of the mountain
+on our side was not steep, and there were a great many footholds and
+boulders. The artillery had been left in the neck of the pass to protect
+the lagers. Beyers, with some Zoutpansbergers, turned away from us to
+the right to reach Elandskrans along the mountain ridge. It appeared,
+therefore, that Beyers and Kemp were going to make the attack from the
+north, with 1,000 men, and that Kemp had the centre and the left wing.
+We were again too late. The sun had risen when we began the attack.
+Corporal Botman was ordered by Kemp to surround the extreme right of
+the enemy's right wing, with thirty men.
+
+We had to storm the left to enclose the enemy in the half-circle. We
+were exposed to a rain of bullets, and had to storm through ravines and
+reefs, sometimes racing our horses, then leading them, and making use of
+every cover. General Beyers, with his splendid sharp-shooters, was
+already in hot action with the right wing, and Commandant Kemp in the
+centre had forced his way close to the enemy. We tied our horses
+together behind a reef, left them in charge of a few men, and advanced,
+spreading ourselves in groups of three, four and five. A moment of
+extreme anxiety followed.
+
+Not to expose ourselves unnecessarily, we had to peep from behind the
+rocks, shoot the course clear, and run to the next cover. Malherbe and I
+stayed as close as possible to our cool, collected, brave corporal, and
+we had to gasp for breath sometimes if trying to keep up to him. The
+others forced their way upwards more to the left, and so formed the
+furthest left point of the half-moon.
+
+While the three of us were pushing our way from position to position
+into the neighbourhood of the few khakies who already dared not raise
+their heads from behind the rocks, I noticed, some 500 paces to our
+front, a number of khakies moving in our direction. I warned Malherbe to
+keep up his courage, as the enemy were getting reinforcements. A moment
+later, while our corporal had again moved onwards, I noticed several
+khakies on a stone ridge some 150 paces in front of us. It appeared that
+they were driven on by part of the centre and right wing, for just then
+two men made their appearance, whom I at once recognised as Boers from
+the colour of their clothes and the quick way in which they aimed at me.
+I stooped quick as a hare, and immediately rose again. The enemy now
+surrendered, I believe to the number of two or three hundred of the
+Northumberland Fusiliers, called the 'Fighting Fifth' on account of
+their courage and bravery. We also took on the mountain a heliograph
+that the enemy had broken.
+
+The khakies acknowledged that we had taken the position with the
+greatest possible speed. We were in the majority. But it must not be
+forgotten that we were the attacking party and had to expose ourselves,
+and also that, although the battle on the mountain extended over a long
+line, our right wing had still to reckon with the reinforcements that
+were sent up through a narrow kloof from the camp. It was a repetition
+of Selikatsnek. The khakies had the good positions, and we had good
+cover behind the rocks on the mountain slope. In such a case he is no
+match for us.
+
+We went on a few hundred paces over pretty level ground, and then looked
+down upon the camp at the foot of the mountain, which consisted of
+several hundreds of tents and many waggons. Some of these waggons were
+inspanned, some were already retreating, but most of them were not yet
+inspanned. The camp lay on the grounds and by the fields of a deserted
+farm.
+
+Afterwards I heard that Commandant Badenhorst, of Pretoria (who had
+attacked the enemy before our arrival, at the foot of the mountain, and
+so suffered the greatest loss), was already retreating, but, hearing the
+fighting on the mountain, had renewed his attack.
+
+The enemy could not stand the fire that we opened upon them, and had to
+retreat from the camp in the direction of Commandonek. The inevitable
+consequence was that the troops on the west, opposite De la Rey, had to
+retreat hurriedly so as not to be cut off by the wedge that was forcing
+its way along the mountains into the camp. They were far beyond reach of
+our bullets. Where De la Rey's cannon were, and why they did not make
+themselves heard, I do not know. Neither do I know why General Smuts did
+not cut off the retreat of the enemy to the south-east. They had placed
+a few cannon to our left in the valley, and bombarded us fiercely on the
+mountain without much result. The balls of a small Maxim flew past us
+with a hissing sound and hindered us in our aim.
+
+The waggons that were inspanned fled in the direction of Commandonek,
+and halted in the valley at a respectful distance from us. Although the
+camp appeared to be almost deserted, a continual firing was heard below
+us. I could not make out from where it came until I suddenly discovered
+several small troops of horsemen who galloped at intervals from behind a
+wall in the shade of some trees. They were in all probability left
+there as cover for the waggons. The few shots we fired at them missed
+their aim. We saw De la Rey's burghers capture a large herd of cattle.
+
+While Malherbe and I were peering from behind our hurriedly erected
+entrenchment, and occasionally firing a few shots, I discovered four or
+five brave khakies busy dragging along an ammunition waggon, or a gun;
+from such a distance we could not distinguish which. We fired at them
+with a sight of 800 paces, but did not hit them, as the horizontal
+distance to the camp was not more than 400 paces, and we should have
+used a sight of 600 paces, but the height of the mountain was very
+misleading. Immediately afterwards a span of mules came in the direction
+of the supposed gun, so Malherbe and I retreated as fast as we could, to
+find a better cover more to the left. It is strange how in a battle one
+always has an idea that all the threatened danger is aimed specially at
+one's self.
+
+We had to be on the look-out not to fire at our own people, some of whom
+were already in the camp. My brother, Malherbe, and I went to the narrow
+kloof that I have already mentioned, after a fruitless search for our
+horses, which had meanwhile been taken to the entrance of the kloof, and
+I heard from my brother that our brave General had been wounded in the
+leg by a shell. During the search for our horses we had noticed a long
+dust-cloud at the end of Kromriverskloof, near Buffelspoort, moving from
+Rustenburg in the direction of Commandonek--in all probability
+reinforcements for the enemy, arriving too late.
+
+The Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers, who were most undisciplined, had
+descended through the kloof in quest of booty. But the Krugersdorpers,
+formerly notorious for their rough behaviour, were now the most orderly,
+and did not descend before all the men were collected. The kloof was
+strewn with bodies of khakies, who were sent up as reinforcement and
+pitilessly shot down by the burghers. The little stream of water was red
+with blood, so that we could not even quench our thirst. Some of the
+khakies had fallen from the high cliffs, where they had to lie
+unburied--like the soldiers on Amajuba in 1881.
+
+We led our horses to the opening of the kloof, and then galloped into
+camp under the thundering noise of the shells that the enemy were
+firing at us from the distance. There was no control possible among the
+burghers. Each one loaded his horse with whatever he could lay his hands
+on, and there was no thought of following up the retreating enemy. They
+did not leave us undisturbed in our glory, but aimed lyddite at us,
+which had the desired effect, that we in our disorder did not storm the
+front positions, but retreated in the direction of our camp, a quarter
+of a mile in among the trees. There Veld-Kornet Klaassen ordered his men
+to off-saddle and give the horses a rest. Meanwhile the camp was burnt,
+flames arose in all directions, and thousands of cartridges exploded.
+
+After we had watered our horses in a neighbouring spruit we lay down to
+rest. But ere long General De la Rey came galloping into our midst with
+a lash in his hand, calling to us whether we were not ashamed to lie
+there doing nothing, instead of following up our advantage now that we
+had the chance, when otherwise the enemy would ill-treat our women and
+children and burn down our homes. One of our corporals rather
+impertinently informed De la Rey that he served under another General,
+and would obey no orders but his. De la Rey thereupon rode up to him and
+gave him a heavy cut with his lash. I went up to the General, and told
+him that we were quite willing to fight, and had only off-saddled for a
+rest by order of our Field-Cornet. In his rage he lifted his lash, but,
+recognising me, lowered it again. If I had aimed at getting a cut from
+him, I might have called out like the Dutch farmers, who got a box on
+the ear from Peter the Great for pressing too closely upon him while he
+was building ships at Zaandam: 'I have had one too! I have had one too!'
+We then rode with the General to the burnt camp. The enemy had not found
+the game worth the candle, and had saved their shell for a more
+favourable occasion.
+
+One can imagine De la Rey's indignation when he saw that waggons,
+provisions, and ammunition were nearly all burnt. He pointed out to us
+how ammunition and guns were required on every side. General Beyers,
+whom we met there, excused himself by explaining that he had ordered
+only those things to be burnt that we did not require. We then rode to
+the other positions on the opposite side of the camp, but the enemy were
+in full flight, followed by an occasional burgher.
+
+I do not consider myself able to criticise the manner in which our
+officers organized this battle. But it was easy to see that a great
+mistake had been made. We had much to be thankful for, but the result
+might have been more advantageous to us. The whole camp with all its
+cannon should have been taken with a smaller loss than eighty men killed
+and wounded.
+
+I do not know the number of the enemy's killed and wounded. If our first
+attack had been made unanimously and unexpectedly, we could easily have
+crushed the enemy. The prisoners, as usual, pretended that they knew all
+about our plans, but why, then, were their reinforcements too late, or,
+rather, why did they never arrive? When General De la Rey organizes an
+attack, and his instructions are well carried out, the burghers have so
+much confidence in him, and like him so well, in spite of, or perhaps
+because of his violent temper, that they never have any doubt as to his
+ultimate success.
+
+The prisoners were released. In my presence they were always well
+treated, and I have seen many khaki prisoners who have never on any
+occasion been ill-treated.
+
+
+
+
+XII
+
+PAARDEKRAAL DAY--BATTLE IN THE MOAT--ATTACK ON KAALFONTEIN STATION
+
+From Onuapadnek our lagers went to the farm Rietfontein, near
+Witwatersrandjes, where we celebrated Paardekraal Day on December
+16--under sad circumstances, alas!
+
+Ds. Kriel, who constantly accompanied us in the most self-denying
+manner, in all our battles and on all our long journeys, led us in
+prayer that day. Halfway up the kopje, which we climbed in most solemn
+earnest, he offered up a prayer to God, and then impressed upon us the
+importance of the occasion. On the top of the kopje he held a short
+service. It reminded me of that which my own father held for the
+assembled burghers at Paardekraal in 1880. How true and faithful he was
+in his position as preacher to the fighting men, and how well he served
+his adopted country!
+
+After General De la Rey, Smuts, Kemp, and Mr. Naudé had all addressed
+us, Ds. Kriel read out a document in which was expressed, in a few
+words, the purpose each one of us should attach to his contribution of a
+stone towards the monument to be erected there. He exhorted the burghers
+not to add a stone to the pile unless they fully understood and were in
+earnest about its meaning. So the old covenant was renewed in a
+different place under different circumstances and in a different manner
+from the Paardekraal Day of former years, and when the burghers
+descended from the kopje they were strengthened by the renewing of an
+ancient pledge in their resolution to fight to the last for their
+country and their people.
+
+The place where the monument was erected was called Ebenhaëzer.
+
+Between the Magalies Mountains and the Witwatersranden stretches a long
+valley called the Moat. In the centre runs a gray ridge or rand,
+parallel to the mountains, and rising into kopjes to the east, near
+Hekpoort. Thither our commando moved a few days later to meet the
+enemy, who were approaching from Commandonek, most probably with
+revengeful intentions. The Moat was well provided with corn, and asked
+for our protection. We stayed over a day on the gray ridge. When the
+enemy advanced towards us on the day following, General De la Rey had
+taken up his position near Nooitgedacht, and so formed the left wing.
+Commandant Kemp, with his men, was at the south on the foot of the
+ridge, and Veld-Kornet van Tender, with a small troop of
+Zoutpansbergers, was on the first kopje, while General Beyers, with the
+Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers held the right wing to the west of
+Hekpoort, in Witwatersrand. The whole of that forenoon the enemy were
+ready to attack us, and we waited calmly. Towards afternoon their left
+wing moved towards the first kopje, beyond the reach of the
+Zoutpansbergers, who were on the Witwatersranden near Hekpoort. They
+began firing at the position of Veld-Kornet Van Tonder, and when he fell
+mortally wounded his Zoutpansbergers were obliged to retire from the
+kopje.
+
+Our Veld-Kornet, Kruger, a fine, brave fellow, then led twenty-five of
+our men towards Hekpoort, to try and stop the enemy in their forward
+movement. As Malherbe, my brother, and I were among the twenty-five, I
+cannot tell what happened to De la Rey on the other side of the gray
+ridge. We pressed too far forward, and soon had to retreat some
+distance. Our Veld-Kornet stayed behind with a few of us, on a small
+rise, while our horses were taken some 300 paces further back, and the
+rest of our little troop rode in the direction of Hekpoort. The enemy
+already occupied the first kopje, and were firing at us from a distance.
+We quickly made an entrenchment of stones and lay waiting. But our
+people were retreating from the other kopjes, and we had to get to our
+horses as quickly as possible. A few cowardly burghers on the ridge took
+us for khakies and fired at us. Then I experienced the difference
+between the aim of Boer and khaki. The latter's bullets always flew far
+above our heads, but the former's fell terribly close to us.
+
+As yet we had retired in good order, but soon we fled in a panic. The
+enemy had come from Krugersdorp in very large numbers, and already
+occupied the high Witwatersranden behind us.
+
+Whoever has an incapable horse had better hide in a ditch or behind a
+wall along with the poor, frightened women. More than once I have seen
+poor frightened women holding their crying children by the hand, and
+seeking a hiding-place near their houses during a battle. It is indeed a
+tragic sight!--we men, with our weapons in our hands, not able to defend
+them at such a time. And then a great feeling of shame came upon us.
+These same women had only the day before called down God's blessing upon
+us, and now they cried to us to hurry, or we would be surrounded.
+
+We rode at a flying gallop for fully half an hour--along the Magalies
+Mountains, between the Witwatersranden and the many smaller banks, while
+to the left the enemy were descending and firing at us. The Waterbergers
+and Zoutpansbergers, who learnt later than we did that the enemy were
+surrounding us, would all have been taken prisoners had they not forced
+their way bravely through thick and thin. As far as we can tell, our
+loss was, fortunately, only one killed.
+
+At the Manharen, a peculiar kind of kopje, we halted, but had to
+retreat further towards evening.
+
+Beyers' commando moved in the direction of Gatsrand, but had to turn to
+Zwartruggens, near Rustenburg, when it reached the farm Modderfontein,
+where we celebrated Christmas. The enemy was constantly at our heels,
+and made things hot for us; we often had to hurry most inconveniently
+not to be surrounded or cut off. We got a few days' rest on the farm
+Vlakhoek. We were camped near a small stream, and went from there to the
+different farms in search of the first fruit of the season.
+
+On New Year's Eve General Beyers' commando moved on the wide hard
+Krugersdorp road. The bullock waggon lager had been left behind, as it
+prevented us from moving as quickly as was sometimes necessary. The
+burghers still longed to attack Krugersdorp, and on New Year's Eve, as
+we moved fast in the direction of the town, our hearts were cheered by
+the thought of Jameson's failure, when five years ago he passed along
+the same road in his notorious Raid. We all hoped to add an immortal
+page to the annals of our history on the following New Year's Day. But
+we were sadly disappointed in our expectations. The Jameson Raid was not
+avenged, and we celebrated New Year's Day calmly and peacefully at
+Cyferbult, on Pretorius' farm, with milie-pap (maize meal porridge) and
+beef and--green fruit!
+
+Whenever we came to a farm we ate as much green fruit as possible by way
+of a change in our diet. On other occasions it would have been very bad
+for us, but now it seemed to have a very wholesome effect. As we moved
+on past Zwartkop over the Krokodil River in the direction of the
+railway, we realized that there was no chance of attacking Krugersdorp
+for the present, for General Beyers had apparently changed his plans. We
+were quite sure that it had originally been his intention, and some of
+our officers talked of the attack on the town as if it were an open
+secret.
+
+Our capable Veld-Kornet, Kruger, had remained behind at Zwartkop to get
+the burghers of Wyk III. Krugersdorp from out of their hiding-places, as
+the Generals wanted to concentrate all the small bands for some great
+undertaking. We joined Wyk I. Krugersdorp under Veld-Kornet Klaassen.
+
+Near Hekpoort, as we were camped at Dwarsvlei, we attacked a convoy of
+the enemy in the valley, and very nearly captured it before it was
+reinforced. I was not present, so cannot give any account of the battle.
+After a sharp trek of more than one night, we crossed the rails between
+Kaalfontein and Zuurfontein Stations, just before sunrise one morning
+towards the middle of January. We captured a few guards who seemed to
+know nothing of our movements. Why General Beyers did not surprise one
+or both stations that morning early is still a mystery to us, as our
+movements were remarkably quick. It could not have been because he
+thought us too tired, for some twenty minutes further on, while we were
+resting on a farm, he ordered part of our lager to turn to the left and
+attack Kaalfontein Station.
+
+Our corporal was unwilling to work us and our horses to death, so he
+first got breakfast ready. But when our cannon began to roar and
+Corporal Botman, who still limped from a wound, rode off without a word
+in his own peculiar way, our conscience began to trouble us, and several
+of our men followed him. My brother, whose horse's back was chafed,
+remained in the lager with the rest of the burghers.
+
+When we reached our guns, we immediately saw that the station could be
+taken only at the cost of many lives--more than the success would be
+worth. Our guns had not the desired effect, and we should have had to
+charge across an open space without any cover. The enemy had no guns.
+They say our left wing very nearly succeeded in taking a small fort near
+the station, but I cannot give any particulars, for our Veld-Kornet rode
+with a small troop of burghers to the right of the station, and took
+another small fort which the enemy had abandoned because it was too far
+away from the station. What might have been expected happened. Towards
+afternoon an armoured train came from Pretoria, and reinforcements
+arrived from Johannesburg and scattered our left wing over the valley. I
+happened to be with a few others on the outmost point of the right wing
+of attack--or, rather, since the scene was changed, of the left wing of
+flight. And as we were retreating at our ease an old man galloped
+towards us and pointed out that we were retreating in the wrong
+direction, as the enemy had captured our whole lager. He had never in
+his life seen so many khakies. They seemed to be on all sides of us. The
+only outlet for us was in the direction of Heidelberg. I asked him,
+'Uncle, are you sure that our lager is in the hands of the khakies?' to
+which he answered, 'Nephew, I saw with my own eyes how they rode up to
+the waggons and made all our people "hands up!"' and he continued to
+give us a minute description of the occurrence.
+
+If we had been greenhorns, we would have blindly followed the startled
+old man right through the stream of retreating burghers and exploding
+15-pounders. But, fortunately, the war had taught us, and we moved on
+_with_ the stream, but a little more to the left, and, I cannot deny it,
+with a feeling of great anxiety as to what was to become of us if the
+old man had indeed told the truth.
+
+Fortunately, it appeared that fright had made the old man believe his
+own imagination, and the lager was quite safe. My brother told me that
+the slight attack made upon them by the enemy was easily beaten off.
+
+The opinion of the majority was that we should have left Kaalfontein
+Station alone. We were thoroughly exhausted by our rapid journeys,
+particularly by the journey of the preceding night, and besides that the
+burghers were unwilling to make an attack of which they did not see the
+advantage. We had several killed and wounded.
+
+The consequence was that we had to trek that night in a way that none of
+us will ever forget, to get beyond the reach of the enemy. One cannot
+imagine how terrible it is to sit for hours on horseback, dead tired and
+overcome by sleep. We did not even guide our horses; they simply jogged
+along mechanically, too tired even to object to ill-treatment. Our hands
+rested on the bows of the saddles, and as we sat leaning forwards,
+apparently lost in thought, but in reality suffering tortures from the
+effort to keep awake, we forced ourselves to look up and about us, but
+our eyes half closed in the effort, and everything about us took a
+strange shape, and the sky became chaos; with a nod we half awoke, only
+to dream again a second later that we were falling from our horses.
+
+Not a word was spoken, for everyone was dozing. Whenever we had to wait
+for our guns or waggons, we simply flung ourselves on the grass with
+one arm through our bridles, and soon we were unconscious of the pulling
+and tugging of the horse, and if the order to mount woke us up, the
+tugging had ceased, and our horses were calmly grazing some distance
+from us. Then we lifted our bodies, loaded with cartridges and guns,
+into the saddle at the risk of toppling over on the other side, like a
+lizzard sliding down a bank, and rode on in silence, drowsily and
+top-heavy.
+
+
+
+
+XIII
+
+COMMANDO SUFFERINGS
+
+
+The horsemen rode generally two by two, partly in front of the waggons
+as advance-guard, and behind as rear-guard, each corporal with his men
+in his place by his Veld-Kornet. The Krugersdorpers were no longer
+allowed to leave their places before they had permission from their
+corporal. Even those burghers who were most disorderly in the beginning
+now saw the necessity of discipline, and were obedient to the commands
+of their officers.
+
+It was a mixed crew of old and young. But the majority were still in the
+prime of life, and proof against the privations of guerilla life. The
+old men among us were all men whose powerful constitutions were yet
+unbroken. It was praiseworthy of them that in their old age they were
+willing to suffer the difficulties and dangers of a wandering life for
+their country's sake, for although their constitutions were strong, they
+were susceptible to cold and damp, the effects of which they could not
+shake off. There were also many brave little boys, who were thus early
+initiated into the privations of commando life; but they shared all
+bravely, in a careless spirit of adventure.
+
+Here and there were some Uitlanders who had remained faithful to us. All
+the others had gradually disappeared, either because they were taken
+prisoners, or killed through their somewhat foolhardy courage, or
+because they had left the country in disappointment. The townspeople
+were by no means superior to the farmers. There were traitors and
+'hands-uppers' among them as well. We have been bitterly disappointed in
+people of all classes, but particularly in the so-called 'gentlemen.'
+
+Our condition and appearance were indeed striking. During the heat of
+the day, when the dust lay thickly about us, we sat in our ragged
+clothes, with shaggy, uncombed beards, on our poor, hardly-treated
+ponies, meekly staring in front of us, seemingly indifferent to the
+moral hurt that we were suffering and the physical pain that we felt in
+all our limbs after a long, tiring ride. At the start of one of our
+journeys an animated conversation sometimes helped to pass the time, but
+it soon flagged, leaving us staring in front of us in the usual
+dispirited, dull way. Our talk became daily more prosaic and
+superficial. We had not the energy to express our deepest sentiments,
+and things which were formerly pleasant were strange to us now. We had
+no spur to enliven our thoughts in our monotonous life. To the careless
+there was nothing startling in this moral numbness, but the more
+sensitive among us grieved over it, and were humiliated by the
+shallowness that had come into our lives.
+
+The small necessaries of our material existence had become essential to
+our happiness. If we lost a knife, or if a pot or kettle broke, or a mug
+was stolen from us, we were depressed for days, as if a heavy blow had
+fallen upon us. It was not easy to fight against that bitter feeling of
+depression. Our only safety lay in the fact that we were conscious of
+the demoralizing effect of these small disappointments of commando life,
+for to know one's self is always the first step towards conversion.
+
+Some qualities of our highest nature were systematically suppressed. We
+prided ourselves on our fierce hatred of the enemy, and considered it a
+mark of patriotism, and we rejoiced when he fell beneath our bullets or
+when the plague broke out. We even wished that a great European war
+might begin, if only we might keep our country, and as a consequence of
+our righteous patriotism an inclination to cruelty became one of the
+predominant traits in the character of the burghers.
+
+The commando life tended to make many of us melancholy. Wherever we came
+the thought was forced upon us that our beloved country was deeply
+injured, morally and materially. We ourselves saw everywhere homes and
+fields destroyed, women and children taken away by force, and cattle
+stolen; and rumours told of the most terrible outrages committed upon
+helpless women and children. If it were not that one becomes hardened to
+all outward impressions, our commando life would have been pitiful
+indeed. So we became hardened to almost all these things, but the
+thought of the ill-treatment of those dear to us, on whose happiness our
+own happiness depends, was constantly with us, and to that we did not
+become hardened.
+
+It is impossible to enter into the sufferings of the married men. Much
+was suffered in silence. Some men got messages from their wives
+imprisoned in refugee camps, bidding them surrender for the sake of
+their wives, since fighting was of no avail and the country was already
+lost. Who shall blame the man who rides away with an anxious heart to
+his wife and children, no matter what the consequences may be to
+himself? Another woman, with a different disposition and a different
+heart, sends word secretly to her husband that life in the prison camp
+is endurable, and that he must fight to the end. Then he stays, and
+proves himself worthy of the courage of his wife.
+
+Some men gave the impression that they were indifferent to the suffering
+of wife and child. These were the scum of our people, who in time of
+peace were not of much importance, but were necessary for our fight. But
+the majority, by far the greater majority, were men who, even in the
+most troubled times, were faithful to the comrades with whom they began
+this struggle, the struggle for our independence.
+
+Whenever we came to a 'uitspanplek' (a place where there is water to be
+found for the horses), some of us had to seek hurriedly for wood to make
+the fire, others to fetch water, and others to help in various ways. It
+was a regular struggle for existence. Those who came first got the least
+disagreeable work. Wood was scarce on the Hoogeveld where we happened to
+be, and the water was muddied by the first water-carriers. When the sun
+was very warm we made a shelter with our guns and our blankets. Our
+meals were simple. They consisted of meat and 'mealie-pap' morning,
+noon, and night, often for weeks without salt. We made coffee of burnt
+grain ground in a coffee-mill. During the war we learnt to drink all
+sorts of coffee--of wheat, oats, barley, sweet potatoes, maize, and even
+of peaches. We became so accustomed to a simple mode of life that our
+wants were few indeed. Even sugar we no longer missed. And we remained
+healthy and strong.
+
+We lay in small groups round the fires, leaning against our saddles. Our
+moods were brighter after our tired bodies had had the needful
+refreshment and rest. The groups were often picturesque, some of us
+lying at our ease with soiled books in hands, others grouped round the
+fire, every now and again adding wood to the flames, and others, again,
+picking mites out of the biltong with a pocket-knife.
+
+A shower had not much effect upon us. We were accustomed to letting our
+clothes dry on our bodies. Nature is very kind to people who are day and
+night in the open air. If the sun did not shine soon after a shower, we
+made a very deplorable appearance in our dripping clothes. But we never
+grumbled. We were generally cheerful, unless we were exhausted from
+fatigue.
+
+We suffered most on those long nights when, for some reason or other, we
+could not sleep, for many of the burghers were troubled with fears for
+their dear ones. Often, after a long ride, we were too tired to prepare
+a meal, but simply flung ourselves against our saddles and slept before
+we had time to let our thoughts wander. But if the enemy were not at our
+heels, we often passed the long nights in sleeplessness, gazing up at
+the stars with the most bitter feelings in our hearts. No wonder that
+many a burgher grew gray. We were often kept awake by the tethered
+horses stumbling among the groups. Sometimes a man would jump up and
+strike at them till all the others awoke, too, and then there was great
+hilarity in the quiet of the night.
+
+Sometimes a constant rain cast a shadow over the sunny Hoogeveld and
+made our lives sombre and almost unbearable. Then our tattered garments
+could not dry on our bodies, and everything about us was wet and dirty.
+Even in dry weather fuel was almost unattainable, for the treeless
+Hoogeveld had been almost exhausted by the many large commandos which
+had visited the 'uitspan' places. In wet weather it was almost an
+impossibility to make a fire.
+
+Whoever had an ailment passed unpleasant nights then; each night meant a
+nail in his coffin. Even the constant rain the burghers bore cheerfully,
+and many a joke was passed along during an interval in the downpour. But
+in the morning, as we dragged our weary limbs out of our mud-baths,
+shivering from cold, we did not venture to put the conventional
+question, 'Did you sleep well?' to each other.
+
+The spirit among the burghers was very different from what it had been.
+No swearing was heard, and quarrelling was exceptional. Thefts, too,
+were seldom committed. We called ourselves 'sifted'; traitors and
+thieves had gone over to the stronger party. I do not believe that any
+European army would have kept its moral tone so high under such
+demoralizing circumstances as did that small army of Boers with the help
+of their religion. Whereas in time of peace there was much difference in
+churches, especially in the Transvaal (although no difference in
+belief), now, during the war, the unity of belief in one Bible had
+become the means of raising the moral tone of the burghers.
+
+During the last few months a plague had come amongst us that we had
+heard much about, and now caused us much trouble--a plague of lice. It
+is not an edifying subject, but anyone can understand how the itching
+caused many a sleepless night. We were not to blame. When we no longer
+were able to change our clothes, we could not guard against the vermin
+that had become a plague among the huge wandering armies of the enemy.
+Although we boiled our clothes, to our horror the nits appeared again.
+
+
+
+
+XIV
+
+BATTLE OF BOESMANSKOP--FLIGHT OF WOMEN
+
+
+Fortunately, the enemy gave us a week's rest on the farm of Landdrost
+Schotte. During that time Veld-Kornet Meyer, with his small troop of
+Germans, blew up the electric factory at Brakpan.
+
+Then we stayed a few days on Mr. Brown's farm, where a great many little
+commandos congregated that were camped on the banks of the river. Our
+horses became quite sleek again from the abundance of mealies they got
+there. On that farm we first used for fuel the poles that fenced in the
+farm. I distinctly remember how, after we had received the order from
+Commandant Kemp, we waited until after dark before pulling up the poles,
+and how grieved we were at the necessity for doing it. Since that time
+we have got over such scruples. Even if there were wood to be had on an
+outspan place, there was always a race to procure the best poles. Of
+course, when there was abundance of wood, the pulling up of poles was
+strictly prohibited.
+
+At that time I made the acquaintance of a nephew of mine, Paul Maré, a
+boy of fourteen, with a noble countenance, who, like so many others of
+the same age, rode about with gun and bandolier, and was full of
+courage. When the enemy approached his mother's house he prepared for
+flight, but she took it for a joke. When she noticed that he was in
+earnest, she forbade him to go, as his father had been killed already,
+and he would in all probability be killed too. He merely answered,
+'Because they have shot my father, I mean to shoot them now,' and rode
+away.
+
+We did not like remaining long in one place doing nothing. We always
+became impatient, and wished to know when we could move on. But the
+Commandant always answered that he could not tell. And the more sensible
+of us thought, 'It depends on khaki.' This was really the case now. On
+the evening of January 28 we got the order to be in readiness. While
+General Beyers, with 400 or 500 men, passed to the rear of the enemy to
+destroy the Boksburg mines, our commando of horsemen moved rapidly in
+the direction of Boesmanskop in the Heidelberg district, to cut off the
+enemy who were pushing on to our part of the Hoogeveld. We arrived at
+Boesmanskop the following morning.
+
+The parts of the country that we now passed through had not yet been
+destroyed by the enemy, but everywhere else the houses and farms were
+burnt and ruined in the most barbarous way. We were very anxious,
+therefore, to cut off the enemy's advance. They were camped to the
+north-west of Boesmanskop. A strong Boer guard occupied this kopje--the,
+only one in the neighbourhood; for the rest, the surroundings were the
+ordinary Hoogeveld with its mounds. We pushed up in a long line over a
+'bult' that ran north-west of Boesmanskop. Our guns--only a few, as most
+had been sent away to be repaired--stood on top of this mound without
+any cover. Lieutenant Odendaal, a very brave gunner, did not like
+kopjes, but always placed his cannon on a mound, as the enemy's guns
+always fired too short or too long on account of the misleading
+distances. They did so in this instance, and the bombs flew far beyond
+us. Corporal Botman ordered me to stay with the horses at the foot of
+the 'bult,' while the burghers crept on to the top a few hundred paces
+further, expecting eventually to charge the enemy. Suddenly I heard,
+twice over, a noise like that of a train in the distance. My brother
+told me afterwards how he had seen a detachment of the enemy storming
+Boesmanskop, and how the burghers waited until they were close by, and
+then beat them back completely with a twice-repeated salvo.
+
+For some time the guns of the enemy ceased firing, because, as I heard
+later on, Lieutenant Odendaal had shot down the gunners. When they made
+themselves heard again, they were more accurate in their aim; I most
+narrowly escaped the bombs. Four or five thundered around me in quick
+succession, as I fell and stooped and grasped the bridles of the rearing
+horses. Some of the horses pulled the bridles out of my hands and raced
+down the valley.
+
+But the left wing of the enemy was surrounding us, and, like a swarm of
+birds that rise on the wing, the burghers fled back in among the
+tethered and the straying horses, and retreated as fast as they could.
+The enemy now bombarded Boesmanskop, so that the retreating burghers in
+the valley had a bad time of it with the bombs flying over their heads.
+
+Many waggons of Boer families, fleeing for their lives, were pushing
+along the sides of the long mounds, and the enemy's bombs burst in their
+midst more than once--perhaps accidentally, perhaps because they knew
+that 'the Boer nation must be swept off the face of the earth.'
+
+The women seemed to be in a panic. From all sides families came in carts
+and waggons--long rows of vehicles filled with poor, terror-stricken
+women and children; large herds of cattle were driven along by the
+Kaffir servants, but many of them fell into the enemy's hands. The
+burghers did their best to make a stand in order to give the waggons a
+good start, but retreated in good order when they saw no chance of
+checking the enemy's forward movement. Fortunately, a heavy shower fell
+in the afternoon and hindered the enemy in their advance, else many a
+waggon would have fallen into their hands.
+
+It was no longer necessary for the burghers to resist for the sake of
+the waggons. The enemy had camped and left us, with the exception of the
+guard, to plod our way shamefacedly through the mud. Our ponies, with
+their quick, peculiar gait, soon caught up the heavily-laden waggons,
+and we supplied ourselves with mealies, flour, fowls, etc., that had
+been thrown overboard or left behind on a broken-down waggon. Such is
+the fortune of war, and the things were better in our hands than in
+those of the khakies.
+
+When we rode up alongside the waggons, many a meeting took place between
+relatives and friends who had been parted for months. The women and
+girls drove the horses, and many of them walked with the Kaffirs in the
+mud next to the oxen. They did the work of the men in time of peace.
+Many of them had been delicately nurtured, in spite of the simplicity of
+their lives, and were not accustomed to the hard work. They were all
+Transvaal women, and wives and daughters of the burghers who had to look
+on helplessly at their sad flight. And, oh! the dear little heads of
+the children that peeped at us from out of the waggons! It was a cruel
+sight, and it moved us strangely.
+
+Although most of the women were drenched, they were all cheerful, and
+seemed proud of taking an active part in the great struggle. And if a
+young man asked a girl whether he should ride next to her to help her,
+the answer was: 'No, thank you, we can manage; the men must fight now.'
+There were many old men and boys who preferred the society of the women
+to the danger of the bombs. Some of the women were not kind, and
+reproached us for being the cause of all this misery, as our appearance
+in the Hoogeveld had brought the enemy in its train.
+
+The waggons were heavily laden with furniture and grain, some even with
+stoves, and they sank deep into the mud, as the roads were one mass of
+mud after the numerous waggons and thousands of cattle that had already
+passed along them. Long rows of vehicles were continually approaching
+from all sides, all going in the same direction, and when we came to
+Waterval River a sad but grand sight met our eyes. The river was full.
+Hundreds of waggons had been outspanned on the banks on either side.
+The women and children were doing their best to light the fires with the
+wet wood, and to cook some food. It was just before sunset, but there
+was no sun to cheer them on their way.
+
+Against the sides of the mounds (bulten) the cattle were moving in black
+dense masses, making an almost deafening noise with their bleating and
+lowing. As we rode through the full river, we saw in mid-stream a cart
+that had stuck fast. A woman was standing in the water pushing at the
+back, while a girl held the reins. A few of our men jumped down from
+their horses and soon succeeded in getting the cart to the other side.
+But we could not stay to help the poor women and children. We rode on,
+inquiring everywhere after the trolleys and the commissariat. These were
+higher up on the other side of the river, so we had to cross once more,
+this time in the dark, at the risk of our lives.
+
+Two little girls were drowned that evening, and the wheel of a waggon
+had passed over a girl's body. It had been better if the women had
+stayed at home and depended on the mercy of the enemy. They should not
+have undertaken this terrible journey. A woman cannot flee from place to
+place like a man, and life in a 'refugee'(?) camp would have been
+better; she should bear her sorrow bravely at home. And this was only
+the beginning of the misery. If they had remained at home, they might
+have saved their homes, but now the enemy was sure to destroy and burn
+the deserted farms.
+
+During the day, when the flight was still a novelty, the women and girls
+were cheerful enough, but who can describe their heartache and misery
+during their enforced journey on the rainy nights? I do not know how all
+those waggons and cattle got through the swollen river that night.
+Twenty paces from where I lay a waggon was being inspanned; I heard the
+voices of men and women. An old man was talking. He threatened to
+off-load all the women on the first available place, as he had never in
+his life had so much trouble. A small boy and a Kaffir had their turn
+also; the boy was on horseback and led, or rather dragged, another horse
+that refused to move. He had to collect the cattle, which seemed to me
+almost an impossible task in the dark, among the many horses of the
+burghers. When he had found Kindermeid, Witlies had disappeared, and
+when Witlies was found, then Vaalpens was missing again. Kindermeid, a
+gray ox, was the most troublesome. Repeatedly it passed by me, followed
+by the boy dragging the unwilling horse. Then the boy exclaimed in sad,
+shrill tones, 'See how the mare jibs!' When his father angrily asked,
+'Have you found Kindermeid now?' he answered, 'Yes, father, but now
+Vaalpens is missing; the mare jibs so, I can't get the cattle together!'
+When he had found them all and the rumbling of their waggon was dying
+away in the distance, I still heard him complain of the unwilling mare,
+in his sad, shrill little voice. It was a small episode in my life that
+I shall not easily forget. This was the last I saw of the flight of the
+women, for we had to stay behind to fight as we were retreating. Later
+on I heard many sad tales about it, which I cannot repeat in this little
+book of mine.
+
+The poor women and children were indeed to be pitied, but we had no
+sympathy with the men who fled in the winter with their cattle to the
+Boschveld, and now sought our protection, though they had never fought
+themselves. The flight with the cattle was necessary, as the enemy would
+otherwise have exterminated them, but many of the men took advantage of
+the necessity, and sometimes three or four strong, sturdy men went with
+one waggon, where one man would have been ample.
+
+
+
+
+XV.
+
+BATTLE OF CHRISSIESMEER--REUNION WITH GENERAL BEYERS
+
+
+I will not describe our retreat, as nothing of importance occurred. We
+were constantly on the alert to move before the cunning French entrapped
+us within the circle that he was trying to draw around us.
+
+At Trichardsfontein Malherbe and I had to go in search of our horses,
+which had strayed, so we were separated from our commando for some days.
+When we found our horses we went to Ermelo, and stayed there until the
+enemy were so close upon us that General Louis Botha, who happened to be
+at Ermelo, and knew of our arrival, sent to say that we must leave the
+town. We then joined his force and rode to Spion Kop.
+
+'In the land of the blind the one-eyed is king!' Even so it was with
+Spion Kop of the Hoogeveld Ermelo. During the three years of my
+University life in that distant little country that stands by us now so
+well in our need, I often climbed a hill about the size of Spion Kop.
+That hill is famed for its height throughout the whole country, and
+bears the formidable name of 'the Amersfoort Mountain.'
+
+While the officers were holding a council of war, Malherbe and I rode
+off to our commando. At Klipstapel we were allowed a few days' breathing
+time, and there we prepared for the night attack on Smith-Dorrien's
+camp, to the north of us. But our guide lost his way in the dark, and we
+had to return. It was decided, nevertheless, to attempt the attack the
+following night at Chrissiesmeer, where the camp was then. We had
+everything in our favour. We were a strong force of many commandos, and
+the enemy's force was not much larger.
+
+That evening we were placed in quite a different order from the usual
+one. The men of each corporal's division rode next to each other. The
+Commandant or Veld-Kornet at the head, followed by the corporal with his
+ten or fifteen men riding abreast, was followed by the next corporal
+riding abreast with his men, etc. On looking back from the top of the
+hill in the moonlight, one saw a broad dark mass of fierce, determined
+men. Nearly every burgher had one or two extra horses, mostly mares with
+foals, that we had commandeered and trained during our retreat on the
+Hoogeveld. At that time every horse, trained or untrained, was put to
+use. It was a pity that the mares with their foals were not left behind,
+as they made a terrible noise with their whinnying. We walked our
+horses; we were not allowed to utter a word or to light our pipes--that
+was reasonable; but the neighing of the horses was not exactly in
+accordance with our silence. Every now and again, when the whinnying of
+the mares was at its worst, some burgher or other would give vent to an
+exclamation of impatience. Every now and again someone or other would
+light his pipe, taking care that neither the Veld-Kornet nor the enemy
+should see it. A dead silence reigned everywhere, broken only by the
+mares and their foals. These beasts caused us great uneasiness, but so
+did the order we received that we had to shoot sharp at the beginning
+of the attack, but then slowly, until it became light, so as to save
+some of our ammunition in case of need. We had to attack in the dark
+then. But what if the enemy, prepared for our arrival, were to pepper at
+us unexpectedly from a different direction, or to point their Maxims at
+us?
+
+The greatest mistake of all was that we took our horses right up to the
+hill on the other side of which the khakies were. The horses were tired
+and had ceased neighing, but we should have left them some miles behind
+and walked on to make the attack as soon as it was light. An uncle of
+mine told me that he saw some men on horseback riding over the bull,
+whom he took to be our spies, but they were of course the enemy's guard.
+
+When we had tethered our horses at the foot of the bult, we climbed up
+slowly, but before we could fall into position the enemy opened a sharp
+fire at us. We charged shouting 'Hurrah!' in wild enthusiasm, and fired
+as fast as we could straight ahead. The sparks flew up some twenty paces
+in front of us, and even after the fight we could not tell whether they
+came from our own guns or from those of the enemy. At intervals we
+heard the tick-tick-tick of a small Maxim, but owing to the dark we were
+not mown down. Some of the burghers threw themselves down behind us, and
+involuntarily one thought of the proverb, 'to hide in another's blood.'
+Whenever the firing slackened a few of our brave men charged, shouting
+out encouraging words, and again raised our enthusiasm. Both burghers on
+my right and on my left were wounded. The latter had a most demoralizing
+influence on the rest of the men, as he lay groaning and moaning in a
+heart-rending way. He was only slightly wounded, and eventually escaped
+on horseback. Our brave Commandant Botman went forward ten paces beyond
+the rest in his enthusiasm, and served as a target for the enemy. He was
+severely wounded, but walked back without a moan and fell down close
+behind me. I did not even know that he was wounded. I turned round to
+see if the burghers behind me would not take the initiative in the
+inevitable flight, as I was ashamed to take it upon myself. I did not
+take it at all amiss, therefore, when I saw several men looking round to
+see if the way were clear, and darting like an arrow back to their
+horses, for all round us our men were being shot down, and we did not
+know where the enemy's camp was, nor could we tell the effect of our
+shooting in the dark. A slight fog had arisen, through which the moon
+occasionally succeeded in dimly appearing. The day had dawned; we
+reached our horses in the greatest disorder, and heightened the
+confusion by shouting inquiries to each other after friends and
+relatives. Some did not wait to find their horses, but fled on foot;
+others jumped on strange horses. Some even escaped on khaki horses that
+had strayed from the camp.
+
+As my brother and I galloped off, a man fell wounded close behind us,
+and the bullet struck the ground between us. The burghers rallied at a
+farm in the neighbourhood of the enemy's camp. Some of our men fled on,
+but most of them retreated with the guns to the commissariat trolleys,
+many without saddle, mackintosh or blanket, more hopelessly impoverished
+than ever, but not discouraged, for although the attack had been
+repulsed we were not defeated.
+
+In this lay our strength, that we were not disheartened by our defeats,
+but were able constantly to rally and to renew the attack. We kept on
+exhausting the enemy by slight skirmishes that are not worth relating,
+but their effect on the whole weakened him and strengthened us.
+
+On our side that day there were forty wounded, but only a few killed. It
+grieved us all that Commandant Botman had remained behind on the
+battle-field. He was universally liked for his bravery and for his
+simple Christianity. To our great joy, we heard later on that he had
+recovered, and had somehow succeeded in reaching Krugersdorp.
+Fortunately, the fog prevented the enemy from doing us much harm, and
+towards afternoon our cannon put a stop to their advance.
+
+The attack on Smith-Dorrien's camp was worthy of a better result. In
+this, as well as in the Hekpoort and Boesmanskop battles, where also we
+had no position, the burghers showed great courage and goodwill. In my
+opinion, the officers should have given up the plan of attack after we
+had missed our way the night before and been obliged to return. The
+Kaffirs and traitors must have warned the enemy of our intention to
+attack, so that they could be in readiness for us.
+
+The enemy were now all round us. We heard the firing of cannon on all
+sides, but that same night we undertook a cunning backward movement, and
+when the enemy closed their cordon an hour later the bird had flown. We
+were careful to avoid a repetition of Cronje's experience.
+
+The burghers were very anxious about our lager. We had left it on
+Brown's farm on the Wilgeriver, when our commando advanced towards
+Boesmanskop. How the lager escaped I do not know, for we heard that the
+enemy were advancing from all sides--Standerton, Middelburg, etc. But we
+reached it in safety the very night that we slipped through the enemy's
+cordon.
+
+We were now safely on our way back to Rustenburg, and had to leave
+General French with his 30,000 or 40,000 men to drive along helpless
+women and children, and all the cattle he could lay hands on.
+Commandant-General Louis Botha had strictly forbidden the women to leave
+their farms after the Battle of Boesmanskop, so that the enormous woman
+lager received no new additions.
+
+Many of the farms were burned down, but some families had been left
+unmolested, because they said the enemy were ill at ease, owing to a
+rumour that General Beyers was going to attack them in the rear. The
+partly-burned granaries bore evidence to the great hurry the enemy were
+in. On some farms the very rooms that contained grain were set on fire.
+
+Our constant retreat had a most demoralizing influence. This was felt
+even in our conversation and our expressions. We called this retreating
+'kamping,'[A] and it became one of our most common expressions in our
+daily life. For 'Let us go!' we said 'Let us kamp!' or for 'This evening
+we start!' we said 'This evening we go on the kamp!' A typical
+expression was 'kamping' for our independence, when we could no longer
+withstand the enemy. If anyone boasted of his loyalty to his country and
+people, he merely said that he had 'kamped' along with the burghers
+wherever they had 'kamped.' We used in our conversation many military
+terms; for instance, 'to change one's position' was 'to go and lie with
+your saddle on another place.' 'I shall mauser you' meant 'I shall
+strike you.'
+
+At Grootpan General Beyers again joined us, after having done the enemy
+some harm at Boksburg. He addressed us and explained his reason for
+countermanding the attack on Krugersdorp. He had told the secret to a
+few of his officers, who made it public property, so that the enemy had
+heard of it and were prepared for the attack.
+
+Moreover, a great fault of the burghers had come to light at
+Nooitgedacht--namely, that they shirked their duty in their eagerness
+for plunder. He was afraid that if they took the town their plundering
+spirit would get the better of them and so give the enemy a chance of
+catching them or putting them to flight. Lastly he said that he was
+going to act in opposition to the orders received from the
+Commandant-General, and would send the Zoutpansbergers and Waterbergers
+home that evening, as it was impossible for them in their condition to
+undertake any military operations. He himself also was going home, but
+would return after a few weeks, as a large commando, led if possible by
+himself, was to invade Cape Colony.
+
+Kemp was made fighting General; the Rev. Mr. Kriel left with General
+Beyers; Klaassen took the place of Kemp, and Liebenberg was appointed
+Field-Cornet of our commando.
+
+The return to their homes of the Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers roused
+a feeling of dissatisfaction in us. Owing to the horse-sickness in those
+regions, and the home-sickness of the men themselves, we concluded that
+we were not likely to see them again. We also thought it would have been
+better to have invaded the Colony long ago, instead of aimlessly
+wandering about the Hoogeveld as we had been doing. In all probability
+our Generals put off the invasion as long as possible because many of
+the men--nearly all the Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers--were against
+it. Such were the difficulties against which our Generals had to fight.
+
+In private, both Kemp and Beyers acknowledged to me that a march into
+the Colony was strictly necessary. I do not mean to criticise, but only
+to give an idea of the spirit reigning among the burghers at that time.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote A: 'Trappers.']
+
+
+
+
+XVI
+
+CAMPED NEAR TAFELKOP
+
+
+General Beyers' force was again split into small commandos, which it was
+the intention of our officers to join into one large force, and so make
+their way through the ranks of the enemy. But this plan was not a
+success, for the enemy were too strong for us.
+
+The Krugersdorp and Pretoriadorp commandos one night crossed the railway
+within sight of the khaki camp-lights at Irene Station--quite close to
+our capital, in full view of khaki's warning, 'No admittance!' We passed
+Zwartkop, crossed Dwarsvlei, and had to turn back to the right through
+Hartleyskloof, as we came across a camp of the enemy. We then entered
+the Moot district, dreaded for its terrible horse-sickness, and in the
+beginning of March we arrived at Tafelkop, to the north-east of
+Lichtenburg, near Mabaalstad.
+
+Once, as I lay resting against my saddle, I heard an old Boer telling of
+the courage and hopefulness among the burghers from whom he came. They
+talked of nothing but peace. It was their belief that a European
+Sovereign on marriage may make a request which must be granted. He may
+even ask a million pounds or somebody's head, and cannot be refused. So,
+they said, Queen Wilhelmina had risen to make her speech at her wedding,
+and had requested absolute independence for the Republics. The Kings and
+Princes were against it, but could not break the old custom, and
+therefore peace would soon reign over our country. But such talk of
+'peace' was an exception, not the rule. After the terrible experience of
+the last months, we had become resigned to our fate, and did not try to
+anticipate the future. We knew that we must fight with courage and
+energy, and the rest we left in God's hands. We had ceased to be curious
+about the plans of our Generals, which were never made known to us.
+Exhausted in body and spirit, we took no account of time. It was all
+one to us whether it were morning, noon or night; whether we had to
+march one, two, or three hours longer; whether we had to march at all,
+or to remain where we were. But we were not demoralized, not unnerved.
+An overworked horse allows himself to be caught and ill-treated afresh.
+The enemy, had only to fire at us to rouse our slumbering energy, for we
+suffered voluntarily, and were a support to each other, because of our
+firm conviction that we were giving our lives for the sake of our
+independence.
+
+It rained when we arrived at Tafelkop, and when we had been there a week
+it still rained. The only clothes we possessed were beginning to rot on
+our bodies. Some of the burghers had a change of clothes on the
+trolleys; others made themselves trousers of their many-coloured
+blankets, in which they cut a remarkable figure. Others, again, were in
+tatters, and had to disappear on the few occasions that any lady visited
+us. Most of the men had no mackintoshes, but always looked forward to
+the sunshine that was sure to follow a heavy shower. But if the rain
+continued, we made huts of grass, or clubbed together in the few
+remaining tents, or if there happened to be an unburned farmhouse, we
+made for that.
+
+When the rain continued at Tafelkop, and our limbs became stiffened with
+the cold, some of us went to an outhouse belonging to a neighbouring
+farm to seek shelter. During the day we sat there in our wet clothes
+staring dismally out into the rain. At night we tried to warm our naked
+bodies by covering ourselves with the dirty wool that happened to be
+lying there. All the outhouses in the neighbourhood were crowded with
+armed burghers in tatters. On the eighth day, when the welcome sun made
+its appearance once more, our clothes were still dripping.
+
+Lately we had had fruit as a substitute for sugar; but the fruit season
+was over now, and we had to go back to meat and mealie-porridge, or
+mealie-porridge and meat.
+
+In the Moot our horses died in such numbers--particularly the 'unsalted'
+mares--that many of our men had to walk. On March 10 my faithful brown
+pony Steenbok died of horse-sickness. For over a year he had carried me
+through thick and thin, and I could not bear to see his suffering. A few
+weeks later we got another lot of horses; I will not mention how, as
+the information might fall into the hands of the enemy. The people who
+still lived on their farms often told us that the few remaining fowls
+instinctively recognised khaki as an enemy, and made for the hedges and
+shrubs whenever they caught sight of him. So here, also, Nature looked
+after the survival of the species. The cows taken by the enemy also made
+their way back to their calves that khaki stupidly left behind, and so
+the little children could again have milk. Even the bees were not left
+undisturbed; but the bee is an enemy of any nasty-smelling thing, and
+therefore the dirty, perspiring khakies got many a sting, and the honey
+usually remained in the hives.
+
+The enemy probably thought that we were helpless in our poverty. But a
+Boer is not easily made helpless. We patched our own shoes and carried
+the lasts about with us. Horseshoes and nails we made from the tires of
+wheels and telegraph-wires. Instead of matches we used two stones. When
+the enemy have burned and destroyed all our corn-mills, we will still
+have coffee-mills, and when those are gone we will do as the Kaffirs do,
+and grind our corn between two stones--and crushed and roasted maize is
+very good to eat.
+
+The old Voortrekkers wore trousers made of untanned hide. We can do the
+same if khaki does not supply us with sufficient clothes. Our wives and
+children and our exiled men we cannot get out of khaki's hands, and that
+is the greatest difficulty in our way.
+
+One of the greatest advantages we have over the enemy is that we are
+among friends, and can move about in small troops without having to
+depend on a base of operations, whereas they do well not to divide
+themselves in too small groups, or to venture too far from their
+base--even in large numbers.
+
+The services in our camp were held by the Rev. Mr. Naudé--a man who kept
+the courage and the moral sense of the burghers up to the mark with his
+meek Christian spirit. He also formed the debating club that was such a
+welcome recreation to us. We often thought that the enemy would be
+surprised if they could know of the debates we had--for instance, 'Must
+the "hands-uppers" be allowed to vote after the war is over?' 'Must the
+Kaffirs or natives have more rights?' 'Is intervention advisable under
+the circumstances? etc. The men in the neighbourhood of Tafelkop were
+mostly 'hands-uppers,' so we confiscated their property, and their grain
+and cattle we took for the use of the lager, but we always left
+sufficient for the use of the women and children. The future of a farm
+on which a lager had camped for some time was dark indeed, for even the
+grain in the fields was destroyed by the demon of war. If the owner of
+the farm were not a 'hands-upper,' our officers usually succeeded in
+preventing the destruction. Sometimes the pulling up of the fencing was
+inevitable, as we were so short of fuel. The Boer women were sometimes
+forced to accept the protection of the enemy, after their farms and
+property had been destroyed by friend and enemy alike.
+
+The negotiation of February 7, between Kitchener and Louis Botha, was
+read out to us at Tafelkop. The burghers were unanimous in condemnation
+of Kitchener's conditions, and were fully satisfied with Botha's short,
+vigorous answer. Had we indeed fought so long and so fiercely only to
+become an English colony, and not to be allowed to carry arms unless we
+had a license? And for the Kaffirs to be eventually allowed to vote?
+The men who were attached to their families and farms, but preferred
+losing all to becoming 'hands-uppers,' were unanimous in declaring
+Kitchener's conditions unacceptable, and all were ready to fight to the
+bitter end. We often spoke of the terrible suffering of our women and
+children in the refugee camps, and sometimes doubted whether it were not
+better for their sakes to give in. We did not know whether patriotism
+were worth the shedding of so much innocent blood. It cost us more than
+we can tell to remain firm and brave in our undertaking.
+
+At that time we also heard of De Wet's retreat from Cape Colony, but not
+officially. It was broken to us gently, and at first as if he had been
+successful, so that we all thought peace was to follow soon.
+
+How we rejoiced!
+
+But a few days later De Wet's official report was read out to us, and
+then our courage sank indeed. What was the good of our fighting if the
+Colony would not help us?
+
+The disappointment was not great enough to make us lay down our arms,
+but we knew it would be many a long day before peace was in the land.
+How long should we still be chased from place to place? When would there
+be rest for our exhausted bodies? And how we longed for our dear ones,
+if only we should find them alive!
+
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+BATTLE OF STOMPIES--IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY
+
+
+We stayed fully three weeks at Tafelkop. I was appointed commissary of
+the Krugersdorp commando, and rode round to all the farms to procure the
+needful for our commando. As General De la Rey had been camping close by
+at Rietfontein for some time, there was not much left to commandeer,
+unless we deprived the women whose husbands were in the veld of the
+necessaries of life.
+
+Our lager was moved from Tafelkop to Rietpan, from whence a few hundred
+of our horsemen started with some guns and a few trolleys for Groot
+Kafferkraal, in Hartbeestfontein district. General De la Rey had come
+over to organize the expedition in person, and accompanied General Kemp.
+I went with a man called Jooste to the neighbourhood of Lichtenberg and
+Klein Kafferkraal to commandeer cattle. There I heard many tales of the
+enemy's behaviour as they passed through a week before.
+
+For some reason or other the houses there had not been burnt, perhaps
+owing to the verbal negotiation between Botha and Kitchener. I know of
+only one house that was burned down there. That was the finest house in
+the neighbourhood and belonged to Willem Basson. Mrs. Basson herself
+told me how it happened. Her husband had fled with the cattle when the
+enemy came along. The soldiers asked her for money. They said such a
+fine house must contain a great deal of money, and when she refused they
+became most impertinent. The finding of a packet of dynamite in the
+coach-house afforded a fine excuse. The dynamite was used by Basson for
+the making of wells. On finding the packet they shouted 'Hurrah!' and
+rushed off with it to the camp close to the house. They came back after
+a while and stormed the house, smashing the windows with stones. Truly a
+heroic storming of a fortress held by women! They destroyed everything
+in the house, and the women and children were obliged to flee to Mrs.
+Scheffers at Klein Kafferkraal, where I met them.
+
+We know of many cases of cruelty and violence, cases that have roused us
+to a passion of hatred.
+
+I do not believe that the cases of violence, which are not spoken of
+because of the horror, are tolerated by the military authorities, who
+are probably ignorant of them. One can understand that the worst were
+committed by isolated patrols who could give free vent to their evil
+passions. We cannot always hold the chief officers responsible for acts
+committed by individual soldiers, neither are our officers responsible
+for the unlawful acts of individuals on our side. But if the English,
+with their national pride and obstinacy, deny these acts of violence, we
+can give them sufficient proof of more cases than one.
+
+I was not present when the Krugersdorpers attacked Babington's force
+near Lensdenplaats, in the neighbourhood of Groot Kafferkraal. But the
+following morning, when they were retreating, I joined them with some
+cattle, and was present at the Battle of Stompies. The night before the
+battle I heard De la Rey's order given to Kemp to march his men at four
+o'clock the following morning in the direction of the enemy. He was told
+to retreat fighting, in case the enemy attacked, so as to give our
+reinforcements an opportunity of attacking in the rear. Kemp ordered the
+lager, or, rather, the few waggons, to retire to Bodenstein's farm the
+following morning.
+
+While we were busy inspanning we heard the enemy's bomb-Maxim, and
+before the waggons had forded the dangerous drift of the donga near
+Bodenstein's farm the bullets flew over our heads from the bult behind
+us. The women fled into the house and the burghers retreated as fast as
+they could. The enemy had surrounded us in the night, and each burgher
+had to do his utmost to escape from out of the half-circle. The few who
+stayed behind to defend the guns were soon obliged to fly after the
+rest, and to abandon one gun still on the other side of the drift. The
+others might have been saved if the women's lager had not impeded their
+flight by obstructing the way.
+
+We retreated to Vetpan. Those of the burghers who retreated more to the
+right in the direction of Stompies were the best off, as the right wing
+of the enemy had to be on its guard not to enter the wood there. The
+enemy fired at us from horseback to enhance our panic, which was clever
+of them, as it was impossible for us to turn in any direction. My horse
+was overworked, and had changed its pace into a heavy gallop, a sure
+sign that it would not last much longer. When I looked round, I saw a
+few khakies riding on ahead, making our burghers 'hands-up.'
+Fortunately, someone released a spare horse; I mounted it without a
+saddle and made good my escape, but was incapable of riding for several
+days after.
+
+Our men made no attempt to check the enemy's progress. They all fled,
+each one bent on saving himself. A Boer, if once he flies, is not easily
+turned aside. But it must be remembered that our horses were terribly
+overworked. They had to live on nothing but grass, and very little of
+that. We all also recognised the impossibility of checking the enemy, as
+we ran the risk of shooting our own men and women; so our only chance
+lay in flight.
+
+The horses of the enemy were soon 'done up,' and they had to satisfy
+themselves with our guns--two large ones that we had taken from them at
+Colenso, a damaged bomb-Maxim and several smaller ones. They took 136
+prisoners, among whom were Lieutenant Odendaal, 32 artillerists, 13
+burghers, and for the rest women and children and some big, full-grown
+cowardly men who were in the habit of fleeing with the women and
+children. The greater part of the women's lager fell into their hands.
+The few waggons of Generals Smuts and Kemp that they captured were of no
+importance. Jooste and Malherbe were also taken prisoners.
+
+I rode with General De la Rey to Tafelkop, where our lager was
+stationed. In a week's time I was back again at Stompies. I had been
+there scarcely an hour, when the tidings came that the enemy were camped
+on Willem Basson's farm. The following morning before daybreak I was on
+my way to Rietfontein. There, too, I had been only about an hour, when
+another column came down upon me from the direction of Ventersdorp. I
+fled to Tivee Buffelgeschiet with two boiled mealies and a piece of
+meat in my hands. Before I reached that farm, half an hour's ride, my
+horse was done up. I crept behind an ant-hill and prepared to defend
+myself against four scouts who seemed to be coming straight towards me.
+Suddenly, however, they turned off in the direction of their main-guard,
+because, as I afterwards heard, they were threatened by eight of our
+scouts.
+
+But the khakies were nearing me, and I was obliged to lead my horse into
+a mealie-veld and to lie down full length in the rain. They did not
+appear, however, and I concluded that they had camped at Rietfontein, so
+I walked my horse to the farm of Mrs. Jansen, one of the few hospitable
+women in that sparsely inhabited country. She hastily informed me that
+the khakies had been there.
+
+The eight burghers soon returned, among them a young man who was nursing
+a wounded man on the farm. In the night we went into the veld with a
+small brother of his, who rode a mule, and returned in the morning to
+watch the enemy's movements from the roof of the house. My horse was so
+ill with horse-sickness that it shook under me. The enemy suddenly
+appeared on the long bult (hill) along which I had come the day before.
+I carried my saddle into the house and fled into the veld. From behind
+an ant-hill I watched the enemy shooting my poor sick horse. They passed
+by me several times, but at last I was discovered, and had to give up my
+beloved Mauser without a chance of defending myself. My two companions
+escaped. This happened on April 3, 1901.
+
+Fortunately, I fell into the hands of decent khakies who did not insist
+on examining my old veld-shoes that I was using as a money-box, so I was
+able to keep my precious four pounds. They took from me only a few
+trifles by way of curiosities, and said I was sure to be robbed of them
+sooner or later by the soldiers in the camp. I was told that I could
+congratulate myself that I was made prisoner, as many columns were
+coming down upon us from all directions, so that we would be obliged to
+surrender that very day. I answered that the war had given sufficient
+proof that their expectations were not always realized.
+
+When the officers of the guard were told that I was taken under arms, a
+curt order was given to 'Let him walk.' When I protested and pointed
+out that I was a prisoner of war and not a criminal, I was treated with
+consideration as an ordinary soldier. I was taken by Babington's force.
+
+The following day the waggon lager arrived at Tafelkop, and the cavalry
+that had been sent on to capture our lager joined the camp _minus_ any
+prisoners. When the enemy's lager arrived at Potchefstroom a week later,
+it brought along seventeen or eighteen 'hands-uppers,' one ambulance
+doctor, several families, and one prisoner of war. Six of the
+'hands-uppers' told me that the whole month we were camped at Tafelkop
+they had hidden from us in their bedrooms so as not to be obliged to
+break their oath of neutrality.
+
+I came across an old acquaintance of mine in the lager--Phister, who had
+served under Commandant Boshoff. I knew that he had been wounded in the
+leg at the Battle of Stompies and taken by our men to Rietpan. On the
+trek from Ventersdorp to Potchefstroom I discovered him lying on his
+back in the blazing sun on an open trolley, near to Potchefstroom; he
+shouted to me that he had had nothing to eat during the whole of the
+eighteen hours' trek.
+
+In Potchefstroom our trolley, with the twelve 'hands-uppers,' the
+ambulance doctor, and myself, was sent in the direction of the prison.
+People came towards us from all directions. Some women called out to us:
+'Why were you so stupid as to let yourselves be caught?' Others
+inquired, weeping, after husbands and sons.
+
+When we got to the prison I alone was detained, and had the disagreeable
+experience of being locked up. The ambulance doctor was dismissed, as he
+was 'Not guilty'; and the 'hands-uppers' were taken to the refugee camp.
+
+The treatment that the prisoners of war receive varies, and depends very
+much on the prisoners themselves and on the men into whose hands they
+fall. I was allowed to see my mother and sister, who obtained a pass to
+come from Pretoria to see me. But I have seen the guards roughly send
+away weeping women who were begging to be allowed a few words only with
+their dear ones.
+
+At Elandsfontein Station the Transvaal colours worn by some of the
+prisoners of war were taken away by force. On the long journey to
+Ladysmith we were packed like herrings in open trucks, with insufficient
+covering for the cold nights.
+
+The Ladysmith camp contained chiefly burghers who had been 'tamed' by
+the enemy, and were ready to take the oath of allegiance. They were well
+treated.
+
+On April 3 I was taken prisoner, and on May 6 I was on board the
+_Manila_, together with 490 other prisoners of war, on our way to India.
+
+The burghers, accustomed to a free, independent life, suffered horribly
+from want of space and insufficient and bad food. They could not get
+over the idea of having to appear twice daily for the roll-call,
+although there was no escape possible. But their sense of humour did not
+suffer.
+
+Our burghers acknowledge that travelling is an education in itself, but
+they one and all prefer travelling as free men--first or second
+class--and they even prefer the high walls and limited space of the
+fortress to being a prisoner-of-war passenger on board the steamer.
+
+The long, galvanized-iron bungalows in which we live here have zinc
+roofs to guard against the heat of the tropical sun, but at any rate the
+wind can blow through the openings on either side. The burghers are kept
+alive and in pretty good health by an extremely temperate manner of
+life. Once a week they are taken by a strong guard for a walk an hour
+beyond the fort. They never get out on parole. As far as we are
+concerned, they might even take cannon along with them to guard us, if
+only they would take us out oftener.
+
+Here, too, the moral tone of the burghers is kept up by religious
+services, and by the great devotion of the Rev. Mr. Viljoen, clergyman
+of Reitz, in the Orange Free State, who is a fellow-prisoner of ours.
+The gaiety is kept up by sports and by the companionship of many
+children. The sorrow is enhanced by the presence of many gray-headed old
+men and by sad and heart-breaking tidings. 'Guard, is there any news
+this morning?'
+
+We are grieving with the grief of the exile, but we are waiting
+patiently, and hoping still that a dove will bring us a branch with our
+colours--Orange, green, red, white and blue: peace and independence.
+
+
+
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+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of On Commando, by Dietlof Van Warmelo</title>
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+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, On Commando, by Dietlof Van Warmelo</h1>
+<pre>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: On Commando</p>
+<p>Author: Dietlof Van Warmelo</p>
+<p>Release Date: February 24, 2005  [eBook #15160]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON COMMANDO***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4>E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Garrett Alley,<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h4>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h1><a name="Page_-5" id="Page_-5" />ON COMMANDO</h1>
+
+<h3>BY</h3>
+
+<h2>DIETLOF VAN WARMELO</h2>
+
+
+<h4>WITH A PORTRAIT</h4>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/portrait.png" width="300" height="475"
+alt="DIETLOF VAN WARMELO" title="" /><br />
+<span class="caption">DIETLOF VAN WARMELO</span>
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="center">METHUEN &amp; CO.<br />
+36 ESSEX STREET W.C.<br />
+LONDON<br />
+1902<br />
+<i>Colonial Library</i>
+</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE" /><a name="Page_-4" id="Page_-4" /><a name="Page_-3" id="Page_-3" />PREFACE</h2>
+
+
+<p>This book was written in 1901, while its author was a prisoner at
+Ahmednagar. It was written in Dutch, and has been put into English by a
+young lady from what was the Orange Free State.</p>
+
+<p>The author is a friend and relation of mine, son of a clergyman in the
+Transvaal, and of old Afrikander stock on both sides. His book is the
+more valuable because of the absence of all literary pretensions, and it
+may be taken as truly representative of the Afrikander spirit, which has
+been so much misconceived in England.</p>
+
+<p>
+FREDERIK VAN EEDEN<br />
+<br />
+WALDEN, N. HOLLAND,<br />
+<i>July</i>, 1902<br />
+</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS" /><a name="Page_-2" id="Page_-2" /><a name="Page_-1" id="Page_-1" />CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<div class="centered"><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" summary="Table of Contents">
+
+<tr><th align='right'>&nbsp;</th><th align='right'>&nbsp;</th><th align='left'>&nbsp;</th><th align='right'><span class="smcap">Page</span></th></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><br /></td><td align='right'><br /></td><td align='left'>
+<span class="smcap"><a href="#PREFACE">Preface</a></span></td><td align='right'>
+<a href="#PREFACE">v</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><br /></td><td align='right'><br /></td><td align='left'>
+<span class="smcap"><a href="#CONTENTS">Contents</a></span></td><td align='right'>
+<a href="#CONTENTS">vii</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><br /></td><td align='right'><br /></td><td align='left'>
+<span class="smcap"><a href="#FOREWORD">Foreword</a></span></td><td align='right'>
+<a href="#FOREWORD">1</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#I">I</a></td>
+<td align='left'><span class="smcap">AT THE BOUNDARY--ENTRANCE INTO NATAL--DUNDEE--LADYSMITH</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#II">II</a></td>
+<td align='left'><span class="smcap">SIEGE OF LADYSMITH--BATTLE OF THE ROOIRANDJES--BLOWING <br />UP OF THE CANNON</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#III">III</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">THE EIGHT-DAY BATTLE OF THE TUGELA--TALK<br />OF INTERVENTION--RELIEF OF LADYSMITH</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#IV">IV</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">DEWETSDRIFT--RETURN TO, AND FLIGHT FROM, PRETORIA</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#V">V</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">TREK FROM MIDDELBURG TO RUSTENBURG--BATTLE OF SELIKATSNEK</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#VI">VI</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">GUERILLA LIFE ON THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS--NARROW ESCAPE <br />OF PRESIDENT STEYN AND GENERAL DE WET</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#VII">VII</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">WITH PRESIDENT STEYN TO PRESIDENT KRUGER</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#VIII">VIII</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">WITH PRESIDENT STEYN IN THE BOSCHVELD--LOST</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#IX">IX</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">PRACTICAL HINTS--ADVENTURE ON THE SABIE--NORTH OF LYDENBURG</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#X">X</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">FROM ROOSSENEKAL TO PIETERSBURG--WITH GENERAL BEYERS <br />TO THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#XI">XI</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">BATTLE OF NOOITGEDACHT</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#XII">XII</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">PAARDEKRAAL DAY--BATTLE IN THE MOAT--ATTACK ON<br />KAALFONTEIN STATION</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#XIII">XIII</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">COMMANDO SUFFERINGS</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#XIV">XIV</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">BATTLE OF BOESMANSKOP--FLIGHT OF WOMEN</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#XV">XV</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">BATTLE OF CHRISSIESMEER--REUNION WITH GENERAL BEYERS</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#XVI">XVI</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">CAMPED NEAR TAFELKOP</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><br /></span></td><td align='right'><a href="#CONCLUSION">CONCLUSION</a></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">BATTLE OF STOMPIES--IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan='4'></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="MY_LIFE_ON_COMMANDO" id="MY_LIFE_ON_COMMANDO" /><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1" />MY LIFE ON COMMANDO</h2>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="FOREWORD" id="FOREWORD" />FOREWORD</h2>
+
+
+<p>Could I have known that the war would last so long, I might from the
+beginning have taken notes. They would have brought back memories in a
+way pleasant to me now, and perhaps also to those who have asked me to
+write down my adventures.</p>
+
+<p>Often it occurred to me to keep a diary, but I was obliged to give up
+the idea because my clothes were sometimes so thoroughly drenched that
+the letters in my pocket were not readable. Later on, when clothes were
+scarce and pockets past mending, I often made the unpleasant discovery
+that caused the fool, on his journey from the land of Kokanje, to cry to
+the King: 'We have ridden at such a breakneck pace, see, everything has
+slipped <a name="Page_2" id="Page_2" />through this little hole!' Now I am obliged to write down my
+adventures without any notes, so dates, numbers, and names of places
+will occasionally be missing. It stands to reason that I&mdash;being an exile
+in a strange country, in the fort of ... in ..., cut off from the world
+outside and without any official reports&mdash;should simply limit myself to
+my own personal experience. And, lastly, I must apologize to my readers
+for so often speaking of myself and my friends; but that is inevitable
+in this tale.</p>
+
+<p>I shall pass rapidly over the first part of my life on commando. If my
+memory plays me false&mdash;which is not very probable, as I still have a
+lively recollection of the events&mdash;I shall be grateful for correction.</p>
+
+<p><i>July</i>, 1901.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="I" id="I" /><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3" />I</h2>
+
+<p class="center">AT THE BOUNDARY&mdash;ENTRANCE INTO NATAL&mdash;DUNDEE&mdash;LADYSMITH</p>
+
+
+<p>When that part of the Pretoria town commando to which my brother Frits
+and I belonged left for the Natal boundary on September 30, 1899, we
+were all very enthusiastic, as could be seen from the nice new suits,
+the new shining guns, and the sleek horses. Many ladies had come to the
+station to see us off, and we were proud of having the opportunity to
+fight for our country. Our departure seemed then to us a great occasion,
+we were inexperienced in war. We had not yet learnt that one could pass
+unscathed through many a fierce battle. We knew nothing of 'retreating'
+and we knew all about the enemy with whom we were to come in contact. We
+imagined that several sharp engagements would take place&mdash;that these
+would <a name="Page_4" id="Page_4" />be decisive battles in which many of our men would be killed, and
+therefore the parting with relatives and friends was sad indeed.</p>
+
+<p>Our Field-Cornet, Melt Marais, had told us that we had nothing to see to
+except provisions for a day or two, as Government would supply us with
+all necessaries at Zandspruit, where the commandos were to concentrate;
+so many of us took neither pots, pans, nor mugs.</p>
+
+<p>What a disillusion it was to find on our arrival at Zandspruit that
+there were no tents, and as yet no provisions of any kind! So we were
+initiated by having to pass the first nights of our commando life on the
+open veld with insufficient food. And in the daytime our work was cut
+out for us, as every other minute our horses disappeared&mdash;lost among the
+thousands of horses that all looked exactly alike in the eyes of an
+inexperienced townsman. Then it meant a running and seeking, an
+examining of marks and tokens, until the stupid among us were obliged to
+tie ribbons to our horses as a means of recognising them. And one, the
+story goes, even tied a nosebag, with a bundle of forage, to his mount
+so that it should not run away.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5" />At length the provisions began to arrive, but the pots and pans were
+still scarce and we could not even drink a cup of coffee till a tin of
+jam or meat had been emptied.</p>
+
+<p>We were just beginning to feel comfortable, when the time stated in the
+ultimatum expired, and we had to cross the boundary of Natal. General
+Erasmus was at the head of our commando. We spent the night near
+Volksrust in a cold hail storm and rain. Those first days we are not
+likely to forget. They were wet, cold days, and we were still
+unaccustomed to preparing our own food and looking after ourselves.
+Fortunately, we had the opportunity, a few days later, of supplying
+ourselves with all necessaries at Newcastle.</p>
+
+<p>Before we crossed the boundary General Erasmus had addressed us and told
+us the news of our first victory&mdash;the taking of an armoured train at
+Kraaipan; at that time we still made a fuss about such a trifle. Also,
+in those days, we still looked up with respect to our leaders.</p>
+
+<p>Ds. Postma, who accompanied us everywhere, led us in prayer. Not one of
+the burghers seems to have known where the <a name="Page_6" id="Page_6" />enemy were. We advanced
+slowly and carefully, as we expected <i>to meet with the enemy at any
+moment</i>; but we saw no signs of them until we came to Dundee. After a
+rest of a few days we undertook the momentous expedition to the
+mountains of Dundee, to the north of the town.</p>
+
+<p>Towards evening we got the order to 'prepare for three days.' For three
+days! And we had not even provisions enough for one. But we understood
+that there could not yet be a proper commissariat, and we fought for our
+country willingly, convinced of the justice of our cause; so we
+'prepared' cheerfully.</p>
+
+<p>Before the commando started, a terrible thunderstorm came on that slowly
+passed over and was followed by a gentle rain. We rode hard in the dark,
+through dongas, past farms and houses, zigzagging in a half-circle, to
+the mountains of Dundee. No sound was to be heard except the dull thud
+of the hoofs of the galloping horses. Now and again we whispered to each
+other how delightfully we were going to surprise the enemy. When the
+horses came to a sudden pause, and an inexperienced rider, owing to a
+presentiment of <a name="Page_7" id="Page_7" />evil, involuntarily uttered his wish to 'halt,' we
+turned upon him angrily and called him 'traitor.' We did not then know
+that we were far beyond earshot of the enemy. It stopped raining, and
+towards morning we reached the mountains; and after we had with great
+difficulty got our horses on to the mountains, we had to await the dawn
+in the cold, drenched to the skin. A mackintosh is of small service in
+such a rain. When the day dawned we led our horses higher up. A thick
+fog had come on. General Lucas Meyer was to begin the attack on the
+west, and we were to surprise the enemy from the heights.</p>
+
+<p>When the roar of cannon announced the battle, we were full of
+enthusiasm, but General Erasmus forbade anyone to move on before the fog
+lifted. It was quite possible that the fog might be only on the
+mountain-tops, because of their great height, and that we would have
+clear weather as soon as we began to descend, therefore several of our
+men begged General Erasmus to be allowed to go on ahead as scouts. But
+he was very much against it, and said that the enemy might cut off our
+retreat, and 'if the enemy surround us it is all up with <a name="Page_8" id="Page_8" />us,' said he.
+As soon as the roar of the cannon ceased, we withdrew some distance into
+the mountains to let our horses graze. But we had only just off-saddled,
+when from all sides came the cry of 'Saddle! saddle!' and from our left,
+in the valley, came the sound of firing. A detachment of 250 khakies,
+probably knowing nothing of our whereabouts, and intending to pass round
+the mountains and attack Lucas Meyer in the rear, was compelled to
+surrender in a few moments, after first having sought cover in a kraal
+near a house.</p>
+
+<p>We remained three days on the Dundee mountains, and during all that time
+there was a steady drizzle, with intervals of hail and wind. Once when
+it cleared up for a few hours we got the order to attack the town, but
+it began to rain again, and that night we had to keep our positions in
+the intense cold, without any covering. Fortunately, the enemy abandoned
+their camp that night, and when we looked down upon the town next
+morning the khakies had vanished. We had only the preceding day placed
+our cannon in a position to command the camp.</p>
+
+<p>When we returned to our saddles, the horses <a name="Page_9" id="Page_9" />had strayed so far that it
+took us almost all day to get them back. My uncle, Paul Mar&eacute;, formerly
+Volksraad member for Zoutpansberg, treated us to kaboe-mealies (roasted
+maize), the first we had on commando, and we ate with great relish.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the commando had left. We followed, and entered Dundee, where
+we helped ourselves hungrily to the good things from the shops placed at
+the disposal of the commandos.</p>
+
+<p>In an unorganized army looting is a necessary evil. There are always
+some of the lower classes who are the ringleaders, and when the
+commandos reach a house or farm that has already been looted, they join
+in the looting 'because the burghers are on commando, and they must be
+well supplied with all necessaries, so as to be able to fight well.' So
+we reasoned, and we joined in the looting. I can affirm, to the honour
+of our burghers, that it was not our intention to plunder, and in the
+beginning much was done to prevent it. The lower class Uitlander, who
+joined us for the sake of booty, and not for love and sympathy towards
+us, was largely responsible for the bad name we got <a name="Page_10" id="Page_10" />among right-minded
+people who did not know the facts of the case. It was the same as
+regards theft. If anyone missed his horse, he had but to look for it
+among the 'Irish corps,' or some other Uitlander corps, and unless he
+knew his beast well he would fail to recognise it, as both mane and tail
+would have been cut short by the thief. I do not wish to pretend that
+<i>we</i> were always free from blame. It has happened that the Uitlander got
+a very poor horse in exchange for his thoroughbred because a Boer had
+tied the token of recognition to his own horse and made off with the
+better one. The truth is that very few men are proof against the
+demoralizing influence of war, and I will not deny that this war has
+shown up our many faults; but in my tale I shall be able to take up the
+cudgels for my people in cases where the rest of the world turned from
+us because they were disappointed in their expectations of us.</p>
+
+<p>After our departure from Dundee the looting went on freely. Then we
+began to witness the devastation that is the irremediable consequence of
+war. Here and there a house had been completely plundered. At Glencoe
+Junction <a name="Page_11" id="Page_11" />I entered the stationmaster's house, a well-furnished house
+with beautiful pictures, books, and mirrors. Some massive silver mugs
+and other articles of value were lying about. The family had only just
+dined, for the cloth was still laid. I ate of the food on the table,
+wrote a letter home with pen and ink, and left the house. Later on, when
+I returned, it had been thoroughly looted and some of the mirrors
+smashed. There were many of the riff-raff, Kaffirs and coolies in the
+neighbourhood, and in all probability they had done the mischief.</p>
+
+<p>When our commando left Dundee to move in the direction of Ladysmith,
+part of the Pretoria town commando was sent to reinforce Lucas Meyer,
+who was to follow the troops fleeing from Dundee with his commando. My
+brother and I went with it. A terrible thunderstorm came on just then,
+and during the whole march to Ladysmith it rained heavily. Every moment
+we expected to come up with the troops, but they had too great a start,
+and we did not overtake them at all. We were too late again. An English
+General has said that 'the Boers are brave, and make good plans, but are
+always twenty-four hours <a name="Page_12" id="Page_12" />late.' That can be explained in this way. We
+were accustomed to fighting against Kaffirs, who hid in woods and
+mountains, and against whom we had to advance with the utmost
+precaution, so as to lose as few lives as possible. So we were too
+cautious in the beginning of the war. We would not make a great
+sacrifice to win a battle.</p>
+
+<p>On October 30 we were present, under Lucas Meyer, at the battle near
+Ladysmith, but we did not come into action, as we belonged to a part of
+the commando that had to hold a position to prevent attack in the rear.
+The enemy did not attack our position at all, except with a few bombs,
+because they suffered a great defeat near Modderspruit, and had to
+retreat hurriedly. From our positions we could see how every time the
+bombs burst among them the fleeing troops seemed to get 'mazed' for a
+moment, and then went forward again.</p>
+
+<p>At that time we were often in want of food. One must have suffered
+hunger to know what it means. In a few linen bags I had some biscuits
+that had first been reduced to crumbs through the riding, and then to a
+kind of pap <a name="Page_13" id="Page_13" />by the rain and perspiration of the horse. Often when I
+felt the pangs of famine I added some sugar to this mess and ate it with
+relish.</p>
+
+<p>Some days later we left Lucas Meyer and returned to our commando, which
+had meanwhile gone to the north of Ladysmith. During our absence
+Zeederberg had taken the place of Melt Marais as Veld-Cornet.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="II" id="II" /><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14" />II</h2>
+
+<p class="center">SIEGE OF LADYSMITH&mdash;BATTLE OF THE ROOIRANDJES&mdash;BLOWING UP OF THE CANNON</p>
+
+
+<p>When we surrounded the town and the siege began, all talk of the bananas
+that we were to eat in the south of Natal came to an end.</p>
+
+<p>Ladysmith ought never to have been besieged. On October 30 we should
+have made use of our advantage. If we had at once followed the enemy
+when they fled in disorder, we should in all probability easily have
+taken those positions that would have involved the immediate surrender
+of Ladysmith. Many lives would have been sacrificed, but not so many as
+were sacrificed during the whole siege. And we might have used those men
+who were necessary to maintain the siege elsewhere as an attacking
+force. Instead of following up <a name="Page_15" id="Page_15" />our advantage, we deliberately prepared
+for a siege. The enemy meanwhile made use of the opportunity to entrench
+themselves well. Most of our burghers were against our attempting to
+take the town by assault when once it was thoroughly entrenched.</p>
+
+<p>The Pretoria town commando and that from Krokodil River in the Pretoria
+district occupied the position nearest to Ladysmith. This was a hill to
+the north of the town, flat at the top, and surrounded by a stone wall.
+In all probability the enclosed depression of about 500 paces in circuit
+had been used as a cattle-kraal. Against that kopje (hill) we gradually
+put up our tents. From our camp we looked on to a large flat mountain
+that we called Little Amajuba, because on October 30 the first large
+capture of prisoners had been made there. In front of our kopje, near
+the foot, ran a donga, and at a distance of about 1,000 paces, parallel
+to us, lay another oblong kopje occupied by the enemy. This kopje we
+called Rooirandjes.</p>
+
+<p>On November 8 we received the order from our General to attack the
+Rooirandjes the following day. We were about 250 strong, <a name="Page_16" id="Page_16" />and very
+willing, as that position had not yet been entrenched. On a mountain to
+our right a cannon had been placed that was to begin firing on the
+enemy's position towards dawn. Distinct orders were given that our
+Veld-Cornet was to be at the foot of Rooirandjes with his men before
+daybreak. But something went wrong again, and it was already quite light
+when we reached the donga. We found ourselves at a distance of about 700
+paces from the Rooirandjes, and we had to cross an open space if we
+still wished to storm the position. The enemy's watch already began
+shooting at us.</p>
+
+<p>The corporals let their men advance in groups of four from the donga to
+the kopje, using the ant-hills as cover when they lay down. Our turn
+came last, but meanwhile the enemy had received reinforcements, and the
+nearest ant-hills were nearly all occupied, so that only three men could
+go at a time. Such a shower of bullets fell that it was a miracle that
+we came out of it alive. Fortunately I found a free ant-hill. My brother
+had to share one with a comrade.</p>
+
+<p>At last the cannon from the mountain fired a <a name="Page_17" id="Page_17" />few shots, but stopped
+again almost immediately&mdash;why, I do not yet know. So we were obliged to
+lie in our positions. It was terribly hot, and not a cloud in the sky.
+We suffered horribly from thirst, and scarcely dared move to get at our
+water-bags. One of our comrades lay groaning behind me. He was shot
+through both legs. The bullets kept flying over our heads to the kopje
+behind us, where some of our burghers lay firing at the enemy. Every now
+and again a bullet exploded in our neighbourhood with the noise of a
+pistol-shot. I fancy only Dum-Dums make that peculiar noise. We had
+already seen many such bullets taken from the enemy by our burghers in
+the Battle of Modderspruit. Another burgher, Mulder, ran past me with a
+smile on his lips, threw himself behind an ant-hill, immediately rose
+again with the intention of joining some of our burghers in the front
+ranks, who sat calmly smoking behind some rocks under a tree, but had
+not gone two paces when he was shot in the thigh. There he had to lie
+groaning until our brave Reineke, who was killed later on at Spion Kop,
+saw a chance of carrying him away.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18" />Some of us fell asleep from fatigue. One of our men on waking heard the
+hiss of a bullet over his head at regular intervals, and thought that a
+khaki had got closer up to him, and was firing at him from the side.
+When he lifted his head he found that he had rolled away from all cover.
+One, two, three, back he was again behind his ant-hill, and the
+scoundrel stopped firing at him. It was lucky for us that the enemy were
+such bad shots, or not many of us would have lived to tell the tale.</p>
+
+<p>When our cannon at last, towards evening, condescended to bombard the
+enemy, the firing almost wholly ceased, and we made use of that
+favourable opportunity to get back to the donga. We had lain nine hours
+behind those ant-hills, and, strange to say, there were only two wounded
+on our side. We decided not to run the same risk again. In this way we
+lost our confidence in men like the brothers Erasmus, General and
+Commandant, who, in the first place, were incapable of organizing a good
+plan of attack, and, secondly, never took part in a battle.</p>
+
+<p>The months spent near Ladysmith were to most of us the most tedious of
+the whole war. <a name="Page_19" id="Page_19" />We had so little to do, and the heat between the glowing
+rocks of the kopjes was awful. The little work we had was anything but
+pleasant; it consisted chiefly in keeping guard either by day or by
+night. In the beginning a very bad watch was kept. Later on we had to
+climb the kopje at least every alternate evening to pass the long nights
+in our positions, while not far behind us stood our empty tents.</p>
+
+<p>When we got back in the morning with our bundles on our backs, dead
+tired, we simply 'flopped' on to a stone, and sat waiting for our cup of
+coffee, either gazing at the lovely landscape or at the dirty camp,
+according to the mood we were in, or exchanging loud jokes with our
+neighbours. Constantly being on guard and constantly being in danger
+wears one out. We much prefer active service on patrol or in a skirmish
+to lying in our positions. It is not in the nature of the Boer to lie
+inactive far from his home. He soon wants to go 'huis-toe' (home), and
+very soon the 'leave-plague' broke out in our camp. That plague was one
+of the causes why the enemy succeeded in breaking through our lines.</p>
+
+<p>Through unfairness on the part of the officers, <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20" />some burghers often got
+leave, others never, and the consequence, of course, was a constant
+quarrelling. Many burghers got leave and never returned&mdash;either with or
+without the knowledge of the officers. No wonder we never had a proper
+fighting force in the field.</p>
+
+<p>The difficulties we had to contend with through want of organization
+prevented the Generals from putting their plans into execution.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately, many burghers were very willing, and if there was to be a
+fight they always went voluntarily. It was noticeable that those under a
+capable General fought well, while those under a bad or incapable
+General were very weak indeed. Sometimes wonders were done at the
+initiative of some of the burghers. We had a few games in the camp to
+pass the time, but we were kept busy in a different way also. Sometimes,
+when we were all just comfortably lazy, the order would be given to
+'mount.' That meant a hurried search for our horses and snatching up our
+guns and bandoliers. But after a while we had had enough of those false
+alarms, and they failed to make any impression on us. The call of 'The
+English are coming! saddle, saddle!' became proverbial.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21" />When we did not keep such constant guard, we sat or lay listening of an
+evening to a most discordant noise caused by the singing of psalms and
+hymns at the same time at different farms. We sometimes joined in. As a
+people we are not very musical.</p>
+
+<p>The day-watch we liked best. Then we often got a chance of firing a shot
+at a careless khaki on the Rooirandjes. To some of our young men there
+was something very exciting in the idea that they were in constant
+danger. Every now and again a bomb, too, would come flying over the
+camp, and the whole commando would make for the rocks amid shouts of
+laughter.</p>
+
+<p>At that time we still felt rather down when there was a fight in
+prospect. When, some time after our attack on the Rooirandjes, we went
+to the west of Ladysmith to attack Platrand, we did not feel at all
+comfortable, although we went voluntarily. It was a lovely ride in the
+dark at a flying gallop, but when we found on our arrival at Platrand
+that the promised number of men was not there, we rode away again quite
+satisfied that we had not to attempt the attack. For had we not <a name="Page_22" id="Page_22" />made up
+our minds not to risk a repetition of the attack on Rooirandjes?</p>
+
+<p>The blowing-up of the cannon at Ladysmith is one of the episodes of the
+war that we look back upon with a feeling of shame. A few days after a
+Long Tom had been blown up on Umbulwana Kop, east of Ladysmith, I warned
+our Field-Cornet that the enemy were busy spying in our neighbourhood at
+night. While on guard, we could distinctly hear the flapping of the
+saddles and the neighing of the horses in front of us. I foretold a
+repetition of what had happened on Umbulwana Kop. The Field-Cornet
+promised that the guard would be doubled that night. Towards morning
+those of us who were not on guard were waked out of our sleep by a loud
+cry of 'Hurrah!' from the throats of a few hundred Englishmen who were
+blowing up two cannon on a mountain to our right, close to us. We sprang
+towards our positions, stumbling and falling over stones, not knowing
+what was going on, and expecting the khakies at any moment. It was the
+first time that we had heard a fight at night, and it gave us a creepy
+feeling. We saw the flames of the guns and <a name="Page_23" id="Page_23" />from the exploding bullets,
+and heard the rattling of the shots and the shouting, but we could not
+join in the fight, as we&mdash;eight of us&mdash;were not allowed to leave our
+positions. Now and again a bullet fell in our neighbourhood, and the
+Free State Artillery, who were on the mountains to the right, fired some
+bombs at the enemy, nearly hitting us in the dark.</p>
+
+<p>When it got lighter we went to look at the dead and wounded, perhaps
+from a feeling of bravado, perhaps to accustom ourselves to the sight.
+The enemy had paid dearly for their brave deed. They know the number of
+their dead and wounded better than we do, for they had opportunity
+enough to carry them away. On our side only four were killed and a few
+wounded. Niemeyer, Van Zyl and Villiers were among the killed. Pott was
+severely wounded. Niemeyer had several bayonet wounds.</p>
+
+<p>After that we were, of course, doubly careful. We have never been able
+to discover who failed in their duty on guard. Cooper and Tossel were
+suspected and accused. They were sent to Pretoria under arrest, but <a name="Page_24" id="Page_24" />the
+investigation never led to any result. We have every reason to believe
+that our burghers were guilty of treachery more than once near
+Ladysmith. Government ought from the start to have taken strict measures
+against traitors and spies.</p>
+
+<p>Some days after the blowing up of the cannon I sprained my left knee,
+which I had already hurt before the war began. General Erasmus gave me
+leave to go home for an unlimited time. On my way home I passed my
+brother Willem without being aware of it. He had come from Holland,
+where he was studying, to take part in the war.</p>
+
+<p>What a meeting with relatives and friends! How much there was to tell!
+Even then we had not experienced very much, and how much more will our
+burghers have to tell their dear ones on returning from their exile in
+strange countries! There will, alas! be much sorrow, too; for many of
+our friends and relatives have been killed in this war, and many more
+will have yet to give their lives for their country!</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="III" id="III" /><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25" />III</h2>
+
+<p class="center">THE EIGHT-DAY BATTLE OF THE TUGELA&mdash;TALK OF INTERVENTION&mdash;RELIEF OF
+LADYSMITH</p>
+
+
+<p>Before my knee was quite cured I returned to Ladysmith. The first thing
+that caught my eye on my return to the camp was the balloon above
+Ladysmith. It looked just like a large crocodile-eye as it followed all
+my movements. When I went to look for my horse or to fetch water or
+wood, there it stood, high up in the sky, and I felt as if it kept its
+eye specially fixed on me, and as if I might expect a bomb at any
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>We had never in all our lives seen so many flies as at Ladysmith. We had
+to hurry over our meals as they made eating almost an impossibility to
+us. Fortunately, I was only a short time there, as towards the end of
+January, 1900, part of our commando, including my brother <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26" />and myself,
+was sent to the Tugela as reinforcement. We had a distance of four and a
+half hours to ride, and we had to ride hard, as the enemy were
+determined to force their way through. We arrived the same day, just two
+days after the enemy had tried to force their way through to the right
+of Spion Kop and had been defeated. On nearing the high Tugela mountains
+we heard more and more distinctly the constant rattling of bullets,
+interrupted by the roar of the cannon and the bom-bom-bom of our saucy
+bomb-Maxim, that made our hearts expand and those of the enemy shrink.
+As we raced on to the foot of the mountains, the bullets that the enemy
+were sending over the mountains to find the Boers raised the dust around
+us.</p>
+
+<p>The following morning we went to lie in a trench that had been dug by
+our men on a rise to the right of Spion Kop. The previous day eight
+burghers had been wounded there. Red Danie Opperman was Field-Cornet.
+Not far from us, to our left, stood a few of our cannon, and facing us,
+to our left, on the long mountain slope, we could see fourteen guns of
+the enemy's. In front of us was a large wood, and close <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27" />to that the
+English camp. We could see the enemy moving in great close square
+masses. It was a terribly hot day; we had to lie in the trenches, as all
+day long the enemy fired at us from the smaller positions facing us, at
+a distance of 15,000 paces; and constantly the bombs burst over our
+heads. At regular intervals a lyddite bomb&mdash;that gave us a shock through
+our whole body&mdash;came from the wood towards the cannon on our left. Once
+only part of our entrenchment, where, fortunately, no one happened to
+be, was blown to bits.</p>
+
+<p>Whenever there was a moment's pause, we lifted our heads above the
+trenches to have a look at the lovely landscape and at the positions of
+our enemy. That day not one of us was wounded. Only the artillery
+suffered. If our few cannon ventured to make themselves heard, eight or
+more bombs followed in quick succession to silence them. Next to me lay
+a man whose servant, a restless, impatient Bushman, most amicably
+addressed him as Johnny. The Bushman went to and fro continually to a
+'chum' of his who lay hidden behind a rock close to us. Once, on one of
+his visits to his 'chum,' a bullet struck the ground close to his
+<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28" />heels; he stood still, looked slowly and defiantly from his heels to
+the enemy, and said in a most emphatic tone, 'You confounded
+Englishman!' and calmly proceeded on his way to his chum.</p>
+
+<p>To the right of this position was an open space, almost level with the
+immediate surroundings, but ending in a steep decline some 900 paces
+further on. There we went towards evening with a reinforcement of the
+Pretoria town commando that had followed us. The Field-Cornet made us
+stand in rows, and told off forty men to dig a trench that night. The
+rest of the men would relieve us the following night. My brother and I
+were in the first shift. Towards morning, while we were still digging at
+the trenches, fire was opened across the whole line of battle. We
+imagined that we were being attacked, and jammed ourselves in the narrow
+trench. But as the attack did not come off, and the bullets flew high
+over our heads, we went on digging until daybreak. Then we noticed that
+the enemy were lying in a trench about 800 paces ahead of us. We fired a
+few shots at them, but saved our ammunition for an eventual storming.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29" />The whole of that day and the two succeeding days there was a constant
+salvo over our heads. The bullets flew over our heads like finches, and
+did us no harm, but we had to be on our guard against the sharpshooters,
+who occasionally fired close to us. That day (January 24), the heroic
+Battle of Spion Kop took place, where our burghers, after having been
+surprised in the night by the enemy and driven off the kop, obliged
+them, after a stubborn fight, to abandon it again. The Pretoria men, who
+were to have relieved us in the trench, took a great part in that
+battle. Reineke, Yeppe, Malherbe, De Villiers, and Olivier were killed.
+Ihrige was severely wounded.</p>
+
+<p>All day long we lay listening to the fighting, for we could not sleep.
+We had to stay in the trench three days and four nights before we were
+relieved. Water and food were brought to us, or fetched by our men at
+night, as we did not venture to leave the trench by day. We were safe
+enough, for the bombs had not much effect on the sand-walls of our
+trench, and there was always time to stoop to avoid them. The following
+morning news was brought to us that the enemy had abandoned the whole
+line of <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30" />battle and were retreating in the direction of Chieveley.</p>
+
+<p>The battle of the Tugela had lasted eight days.</p>
+
+<p>I had again hurt my knee, and had to leave Ladysmith for Pretoria, from
+whence I went to Warmbad at Waterberg to stay for a few weeks with Mrs.
+Klein-Frikkie Grobler, who received me most kindly. My brother Frits got
+leave for the first time then, too, and Willem remained at Ladysmith.
+During my absence the English broke through at Pieter's Heights, where
+Willem was made prisoner and L&uuml;ttig, Malherbe and Stuart de Villiers
+were killed. Meanwhile Frits had gone, with some other Pretoria men, to
+the Orange Free State, where the enemy had surrounded General Cronje.</p>
+
+<p>Since the beginning of the siege our burghers always thought the town
+would fall soon. 'The khakies cannot hold out any longer! They have no
+provisions, and their ammunition must be coming to an end! Buller can
+never cross the Tugela, our positions are too good! What does it matter
+if <i>I</i> do go on leave? The khakies cannot get through!' That was the
+<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31" />opinion of most of the burghers. And if anyone ventured to point out
+that the enemy <i>might</i> force their way through because we did not all do
+our duty, he was either not believed or looked upon as a traitor.
+Meanwhile enthusiasm was dying out. The burghers lay in their lagers or
+went home, trusting to the few willing ones, who ultimately proved not
+strong enough to withstand the overwhelming force that Buller brought to
+bear upon one point of our positions when he was obliged to force his
+way through at no matter what cost.</p>
+
+<p>No leave should have been given during the war, and here I may as well
+mention&mdash;although this tale does not pretend to be a history of the
+war&mdash;that it has been carried on with far too great laxity, owing to the
+ignorance of our Generals and the demoralizing influence of
+self-interest and nepotism. We should have sent our forces far into the
+Cape Colony to get help from our brothers in a war that had been forced
+upon us by England. The Colonial Afrikanders never had the opportunity
+of standing by us, because we did not supply them with the necessary
+ammunition or stretch out our hands towards them. Unless they had help
+<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32" />from our invading forces, they dared not risk a rising, because of the
+confiscation of their property in case of failure.</p>
+
+<p>We have had to suffer&mdash;to suffer cruelly for our sins. Our enemy forced
+his way through the dyke that surrounded us, and like a stormy sea he
+ruined our homes, devastated our fields, and caused us endless
+suffering. Besides this, the talk of intervention had an enervating
+effecton the commandos. In our commando, which was largely composed of
+ignorant men, the strangest stories went round. One was that the
+Russians had landed somewhere in South Africa with 100 cannon. There was
+always talk of a great European War having broken out; and the
+consequence was that the Boers counted on intervention or help from the
+Powers, instead of depending on their own strength and perseverance. The
+most sensible among us recognised the improbability of intervention. It
+was not to the interest of any foreign Power to intervene in South
+Africa where it had no firm footing, particularly as Chamberlain had, by
+most cunning artifices, forced us to be the aggressors.</p>
+
+<p>War was inevitable. Sooner or later it had <a name="Page_33" id="Page_33" />to come. After the Jameson
+Raid, which was really the beginning of the war, the Transvaal
+Government recognised the dangerous position in which it stood, as an
+isolated Republic, and was therefore obliged to arm itself with the most
+modern of military equipments. Before the Jameson Raid race hatred was
+dying out rapidly. The consequence of the raid was that the gap between
+Boer and Englishman widened, the sympathy of the Uitlanders for us grew
+deeper, and the Afrikander Bond grew stronger. England's prestige in
+South Africa was threatened, and with it her rank as first Power in the
+world. She had to maintain her supremacy in South Africa; while for us
+it had become a question of all or nothing. England has evidently
+succeeded in keeping up such friendly relations with the other Powers
+that no intervention seems possible.</p>
+
+<p>The relief of Ladysmith took place on February 28&mdash;a Majuba Day&mdash;a day
+that had been marked as a red-letter day in our calendars. For nineteen
+years the enemy have longed to wipe out the remembrance of that day, and
+they have done so brilliantly and malignantly. Since that time we have
+<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34" />been humiliated and belittled. Our fall was great. For the first time
+there was a general panic. The two Republics, being forced to venture on
+war against a powerful kingdom, felt themselves staggering under the
+heavy blow.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="IV" id="IV" /><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35" />IV</h2>
+
+<p class="center">DEWETSDRIFT&mdash;RETURN TO, AND FLIGHT FROM, PRETORIA</p>
+
+
+<p>After the relief of Kimberley and Ladysmith we imagined that the
+decisive battles would soon follow. Although my knee was not yet cured,
+I went to Glencoe, whither our commandos had retreated. I was not five
+days there when I had to leave, being unfit for active service. Again I
+went to Warmbad for some weeks with Mr. Burgemeester Potgieter and his
+family, and on my return to Pretoria remained in my office until the
+beginning of May.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Frits had returned from the Free State, and my knee was cured.
+We each bought ourselves a sturdy pony, and left, with some other
+burghers, by train for Klerksdorp, from where we went on to Dewetsdrift,
+on the <a name="Page_36" id="Page_36" />Vaal River. General Viljoen was guarding the drift there with
+some hundreds of burghers. We rode from there some four or five hours
+into the Free State to spy the movements of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>From Dewetsdrift we went, under Commandant Boshoff, to Schoemansdrift,
+Venterskroon, and Lindequidrift. Our division formed part of the escort
+for the guns. Our route lay through beautiful scenery. The Vaal twists
+and bends between two high mountains that curve on either side like the
+roads the khaki makes with his double row of waggons over the hills of
+the Hoogeveld. In every opening of the mountains lies a farm, a mean
+little house, but among well-cultivated fields. In nearly every farm the
+family was grieving for one of its members who had been taken prisoner
+along with Cronje, and of whose fate they were in ignorance. The people
+received us very kindly. Everywhere we got milk and biscuits, and we
+found afterwards that those people were the kindest who had suffered the
+most from the war.</p>
+
+<p>As the enemy were already on their way to Johannesburg, we had to
+retreat as rapidly as <a name="Page_37" id="Page_37" />possible, first to Bank Station, near
+Potchefstroom, and then by train to Langlaagte. To the north-west of
+Johannesburg we had a skirmish with the enemy, who attacked us as we
+were feeding our horses. It appeared that our guard was not on duty. I
+have never seen horses saddled so quickly. Most of the burghers rode off
+and left us behind with the guns. One ammunition waggon stuck in the
+mud, and was left behind, but was brought in safety to Pretoria by Frans
+Lottering, a comrade of mine, who rode back for it with some gunners
+when we had fled. Lottering was given a sword by General de la Rey for
+his brave conduct. Through negligence on the part of our officers we
+lost on that occasion one gun, several waggons, and some of our men.</p>
+
+<p>Almost all night long we retreated with our guns to Pretoria. We had not
+lost courage. We all spoke of the thorough way in which our Government
+would have fortified Pretoria, and of the great battle that would take
+place there. We had all made up our minds to a stubborn resistance at
+our capital. What a bitter disappointment it was to find that our
+Government had decided not to defend the town! The <a name="Page_38" id="Page_38" />causes that led to
+such a decision will be brought to light by historians. The consequences
+were that many of the burghers were discouraged, and rode 'huis-toe,'
+and nothing came of the great battle that was to have been fought.</p>
+
+<p>Frits and I decided to give our horses a few days' rest in their stables
+before going to meet the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>On June 4, at about twelve o'clock, while we were at luncheon, a lyddite
+bomb fell close to the fort, raising a cloud of dust. My mother went
+outside, and came back quickly to tell us that it was not a shot <i>from</i>
+the fort, but from the enemy. The bombs followed in quick succession.
+They flew over Schanskop fort, and fell close to our house at Sunnyside.
+As the ground was rocky they exploded well. My mother and sister fled
+with our neighbours to the town, and my brother and I saddled our horses
+and rode off to Quaggaspoort.</p>
+
+<p>From over the mountains, to the south of the town, the bombs came flying
+as a gentle warning from the khakies that it would be better to
+surrender in order to avoid a great calamity.</p>
+
+<p>It was sad to see how few horses there were at the foot of the mountain.
+Here a group of <a name="Page_39" id="Page_39" />four, there of ten&mdash;a sign that the number of burghers
+in the positions was very small indeed. When the enemy appeared at
+Quaggaspoort, we noticed that the burghers from the direction of
+Krokodil River were retreating, and a moment later they were all in full
+flight. One of my comrades, a brother of Lottering, was wounded in the
+arm by a shell as he fled, and had to remain behind in Pretoria. That
+night my brother and I spent in our own home, but we left the town the
+following morning in the direction of Silverton, just before the enemy
+entered.</p>
+
+<p>It would be well to try and understand the condition of our country and
+the temper of our burghers.</p>
+
+<p>As the capital was in the hands of the enemy, it was easy enough to
+convince our simple-minded men that our country was irretrievably lost
+to us. Therefore a period of discouragement and demoralization followed.
+Many burghers, also, who had all along fought bravely now remained
+behind in the towns or on their farms, not daring to leave their wives
+and daughters at the mercy of the soldiers. We may not judge those men,
+neither need we <a name="Page_40" id="Page_40" />consider it to our credit that we, either from a sense
+of duty or from a spirit of adventure, acted differently. There were
+many also who argued that the Government was corrupt, and that the war
+should have been prevented, or that the Boers did not want to fight. So
+they also became unfaithful to the cause, and to those along with whom
+they began the war. And the name of 'hands-upper' was earned by those
+burghers who of their own free will surrendered to the enemy. The chaff
+was divided from the grain; cowards and traitors remained behind, and
+the willing ones went to the veld, even though it were in a retreating
+direction. We were still very hopeful. There were still the good
+positions in the Lydenberg district, and we had heard that De Wet had
+cut the line of communication behind the enemy. We also still had an
+intact line to Delagoa Bay.</p>
+
+<p>My brother and I met our old comrade Frans Loitering, and the three of
+us went in search of General Grobler of Waterberg, who lay with his
+commando to the east of Pretoria at Franspoort, near Donkerhoek. There
+we joined his commando. Our camp was put up <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41" />near a Kaffir location, and
+as the Kaffirs were clean, we often bought boiled sweet potatoes and
+crushed maize from them.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing particular happened at Franspoort. To the right and left of us
+some desperate fighting went on for several days, and at Donkerhoek a
+fierce battle took place, but we were not attacked.</p>
+
+<p>When the news came that the enemy had broken through our lines at
+Donkerhoek, and that we had to retreat, my brother and I left Grobler's
+commando. Thinking that the commandos would fall back upon the positions
+of Belfast, we went to Middelburg to an uncle of ours, the missionary
+Jan Mar&eacute;, in order to give our horses a rest. We had lost sight of our
+comrade Frans. On our way we bought bread at the farms, or had it given
+us, cut a piece off an ox that had been slaughtered for the commando,
+and slept either in a manger or, as was more often the case, in the open
+air of the cold Hoogeveld. We arrived at Middelburg completely
+exhausted, and are not likely to forget our uncle's great hospitality.</p>
+
+<p>We accidentally met our former Commandant, Boshoff, who told us that he
+was on <a name="Page_42" id="Page_42" />his way with ten men to join General de la Rey, who had gone in
+the direction of Rustenburg to cut the enemy's line of communication
+between Mafeking and Pretoria, and we very willingly joined him, after a
+delightful rest of ten days.</p>
+
+<p>The commando of Commandant Boshoff consisted of nine burghers with an
+ambulance waggon&mdash;that was used for the commissariat and for our
+bedding&mdash;a French doctor, two Kaffirs and two tents. It seemed as if we
+were going for a picnic. But it was necessary that we should be well
+provided with all sorts of things, as our journey would be through the
+Boschland, where fever and horse-sickness play havoc with man and horse
+in summer. In winter it is endurable for a few months only, so the
+country is very scarcely populated and almost uncultivated, and in
+winter the Boers trek there with their cattle from the bare, chill
+Hoogeveld. I had always longed to see that part of the Transvaal.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="V" id="V" /><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43" />V</h2>
+
+<p class="center">TREK FROM MIDDELBURG TO RUSTENBURG&mdash;BATTLE OF SELIKATSNEK</p>
+
+
+<p>Some hours north of Middelburg one suddenly leaves the high plateau of
+the Boschveld for a difficult road that curves steadily downwards
+between two high mountains until it reaches a wide, thickly-wooded
+valley. In the kloof (mountain-pass) a swiftly-flowing river cuts the
+road that goes along its banks, in several places, before it loses
+itself in the Olifants River. There the song of many birds, not to be
+found on the Hoogeveld, can be heard, and there it was delightfully
+warm, in comparison with the chilly air of the Hoogeveld. Of an evening
+we made large fires, as there was plenty of dry wood. We sat round the
+fire, chatting or listening to the comic songs which one of our comrades
+sang. It was a happy <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44" />time&mdash;away from khaki, far beyond reach of the
+roar of cannon&mdash;a time of rest in preparation for the evil days that
+awaited us.</p>
+
+<p>Everywhere we saw flocks of sheep and herds of cattle grazing among the
+bushes&mdash;always a sign that we should find a waggon or two with tents
+close to them, under the nearest trees. Sometimes, near a drift or a
+good place to uitspan, quite a small lager had been formed of the trek
+Boers, or, rather, of their wives, for the husbands and sons of many had
+gone to the war. The Boers who fled with their cattle in that way we
+called 'Bush-lancers.' We came up with De la Rey's lager near the Elands
+River, and later on made the acquaintance of Captain Kirsten's scouts,
+to whom we offered our services. In those days it was very pleasant to
+belong to the reconnoitring corps. When we went to reconnoitre our
+horses got plenty of forage on the farms, and as we were few in number
+and always ahead of the lager, there were always eggs, bread, and milk
+to be had. We had enough to do, also, as we had to keep a sharp
+look-out, and we were in constant danger, but not at all afraid of the
+patrols of khakies, which, being <a name="Page_45" id="Page_45" />small in number and without their
+guns, were pretty harmless. We advanced almost parallel to the Magalies
+Mountains, that stretch from Pretoria to Rustenburg, until we came to
+the neighbourhood of Selikatsnek. Unless one was well acquainted with
+the highways and byways of that part of the country, one was in constant
+danger of losing the way; it is a long stretch of bush, consisting of
+the well-known thorn-bushes of the Hoogeveld, for a distance of about
+ten miles deep. The principal passes of the Magalies Mountains were
+occupied by the enemy&mdash;Wonderboompoort, Hornsnek, Selikatsnek,
+Commandonek, Olifantsnek. General de la Rey had made up his mind to take
+Selikatsnek, and on July 11 he succeeded, by his strong will and
+military talent.</p>
+
+<p>While we were reconnoitring with Captain Kirsten's party we got the news
+that De la Rey had attacked Selikatsnek&mdash;about an hour's ride from where
+we were&mdash;and that the battle was still going on. We all rode to the
+scene of action, but my brother and I, with a few other men, remained
+behind to wait for Captain Kirsten, who was absent at the time. As soon
+as he arrived we rode off, and arrived at Seli<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46" />katsnek at about nine
+o'clock. Our burghers had already taken two of the enemy's guns.</p>
+
+<p>Selikatsnek (or Moselikatsnek) is a narrow opening in the Magalies
+Mountains, with high shoulders on either side, that slope gradually to a
+white kopje in the centre. If an attacking party once occupies the
+shoulders, it can easily keep the enemy on the kopje or on the two
+slopes. When we arrived our burghers already occupied the principal
+positions&mdash;both shoulders and the smaller positions to the front of the
+kopje. The enemy had been obliged to draw in their clipped wings, and to
+concentrate on and in the neighbourhood of the white kopje.</p>
+
+<p>But as the shoulders of the pass were very steep on the other side, our
+men could not surround the enemy or attack them in the rear; and as
+there was not sufficient cover for them to go down the slope without
+great loss, in order to drive the enemy by force from their positions,
+the burghers remained 'rock-fast' in their positions, and made no
+progress at all. Thus, the enemy would either get reinforcements from
+Pretoria or escape when it got dark. Both our flanks kept up a constant
+fire <a name="Page_47" id="Page_47" />on the slopes, and on the white kopje, but the shoulders were too
+high for a proper aim, and the khakies lay fast behind the boulders and
+in the clefts of the rocks.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Kirsten, with about ten men, was ordered by General Coetzee to
+hold a position to the right of the white kopje, and prevent the enemy
+from taking it. This position consisted of a small rise, from which we
+could fire at the kopje with a sight of 550 paces. To the right of this
+rise, at a distance of 80 paces, was a small kloof overgrown with
+bushes, and on the other side of the kloof ran a reef of rocks in the
+direction of the white kopje. Here some of the burghers had before our
+arrival forced eleven khakies to surrender, but they had not succeeded
+in occupying the position, as some khakies had remained in the kloof,
+and had shouted to them that they would not surrender. We were therefore
+warned against that kloof. But while the others were shooting at the
+enemy on the white kopje, one of our men went by himself to see if there
+really were any khakies left there. He kept under cover wherever he
+could&mdash;behind the rocks and behind the walls of an old kraal&mdash;and <a name="Page_48" id="Page_48" />came
+close up to the kloof without being fired at. On the other side, at a
+distance of fifty paces, he heard a wounded man groaning and begging for
+water; but, as he was alone, he did not venture to cross the kloof. He
+returned to his comrades, but they would pay no attention to his request
+to cross, as they thought the enemy were only waiting until more men
+came under fire before they began firing.</p>
+
+<p>We continued shooting at the white kopje, from which the enemy were
+firing at us. The Captain had a good telescope, through which he could
+distinctly see the faces of the enemy on the kopje. If a khaki showed
+himself from behind a rock, the Captain pointed him out to one of our
+marksmen, Alec Boshoff, who studied the position through the telescope,
+and took such good aim that the Captain declared he could see the blood
+on the wounded man's face.</p>
+
+<p>The burgher who had gone to the kloof tried to persuade the rest to
+cross with him to the other side, as he was sure the enemy were not
+inclined to make any resistance there. At length, after twelve, he went
+with two others to the opposite side, but first told a few of the <a name="Page_49" id="Page_49" />best
+marksmen to keep an eye on the reef. They crossed the kloof very
+cautiously. It was dangerous work, as a shot might come at any moment
+from behind one of the numerous shrubs or boulders. But they did not
+advance in an unbroken line. Every time they sought cover behind a rock,
+from which they watched to see whether the enemy would make their
+appearance. They did not all three advance at the same time, either, but
+first one and then the other. Whenever they had advanced a few steps,
+they stopped to ask the wounded man, who lay groaning there, whether he
+was alone. When they reached him they put some grass under his head, and
+gave him some brandy from a flask that they always carried with them.
+The poor man lay in a pool of blood on a rock under some shrubs. He had
+been shot through the leg. His name was Lieutenant Pilkington.</p>
+
+<p>The wounded man took hold of the hands of one of the burghers and begged
+him to stay with him. He, however, considered it his duty to advance,
+but first assured the poor man that the burghers who were following
+could also speak English, and would look after him. <a name="Page_50" id="Page_50" />Most of our men
+followed the three. The rocks and boulders on the reef that we were
+climbing afforded us splendid cover from the enemy on the white kopje.</p>
+
+<p>To our left we found some more wounded. My brother took charge of one
+with a ghastly wound in his head. We made some prisoners there, who were
+too cowardly to defend themselves. A few of our comrades took them down.
+We could notice by the guns and rugs that were lying about that the
+enemy had fled in a panic, or else we should never have ventured to do
+what we did later on.</p>
+
+<p>We could fire at the enemy from a much shorter distance now, but were
+not yet in their rear. It was necessary that we should occupy the next
+position&mdash;a reef running parallel to the reef we were climbing, at a
+distance of eighty paces. But it was impossible to take that position,
+as our guns were firing bomb after bomb from the valley at our back,
+somewhat to the left of us, so that the stones flew up in the air. We
+also ran the risk of being taken for khakies, as our men knew nothing of
+our venture. The Captain sent down a message to tell them to stop
+shelling that position, as <a name="Page_51" id="Page_51" />we wished to take it. Meanwhile, we kept on
+firing at the white kopje, and the khakies kept on firing at us.</p>
+
+<p>I went back to the wounded officer, who was being looked after by the
+Captain. While we were standing talking, he died from loss of blood. Oh
+the cruel brutality of war! The poor man was not dead five minutes when
+we sat smoking his cigarettes.</p>
+
+<p>We moved slightly more to the left towards the boulders. Khaki was on
+the one side, we on the other. Some of our men had a most original and
+amusing way of getting at the khakies. 'Come out, you rabbits, come out
+of your holes, else we'll shoot down the lot of you!' Then the poor
+things answered: 'We're afraid to come out. You'll kill us!' They really
+thought we would shoot them down if they surrendered. The officers had
+lost all control over the soldiers. Later on, at Nooit Gedacht, where
+<i>we</i> had cover as well as the enemy, it was proved that as soon as the
+officers lose control over the men they remain lying behind the rocks
+without firing a shot, as they are too frightened to expose themselves.
+Most of them still had their bando<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52" />liers full of cartridges&mdash;there, too,
+when they surrendered.</p>
+
+<p>Before the war the English used to say they would fight us in our own
+way, from behind rocks; but they forgot that as soon as an officer,
+having to seek cover himself, fails to keep his eye on his men, they are
+too cowardly to lift their heads from behind the rocks, as they are not
+fighting for their independence. On a field like Selikatsnek we are by
+far the better men.</p>
+
+<p>To get the khakies from behind the rocks, one of our men ran as hard as
+he could to a rock in their neighbourhood, and aimed at them. Then some
+of them threw down their guns and put up their hands. Others surrendered
+more calmly. So he sometimes made five or six of them surrender without
+their having fired a single shot at him. A shower of bullets always came
+from the white kopje, but, as his movements were quick and unexpected,
+they could not take proper aim at him. One of the khakies said as he
+surrendered: 'It is better to surrender than to be a dead man.' Another:
+'Just fancy, in the hands of the Boers! I wonder what poor mother 'll
+say!'</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53" />Meanwhile the gunners had received the Captain's report, and ceased
+bombarding the reef that we wanted to storm. As it was getting late and
+there was no other means, one of our men ran forward as hard as he
+could, making use of every small covering, while the rest kept firing at
+the white kopje to prevent the enemy from taking a proper aim at him.
+There were not many khakies behind that reef, neither did they fire at
+him. The rest of us followed at intervals, while those who arrived at
+the reef again fired at the white kopje to cover the others.</p>
+
+<p>The few khakies who surrendered at the reef we first disarmed, and then
+we allowed them to seek cover behind the rocks from the bullets of their
+friends. From that position we could see the enemy from the rear. In the
+narrow road, at a distance of about 150 paces from us, stood an
+ammunition waggon with splendid horses harnessed in it; there was no
+room for them to turn to draw away the waggon. A few khakies showed
+themselves next to the waggon, but were immediately shot down. A little
+further on an ambulance waggon, also inspanned, stood against the kopje;
+one could <a name="Page_54" id="Page_54" />distinctly see how the empty litter was carried up and
+brought down again with some of the wounded. Once a man walked next to
+the litter as it was carried down; I pointed him out to my brother, as I
+suspected his motive. I was right. Just by the ambulance waggon he
+disappeared in a donga leading to the valley. My brother, who was a
+little higher up the reef than I was, could not hit him, as he appeared
+again only for a moment. He was most likely a despatch-rider who went to
+warn the guard at Commandonek to retreat.</p>
+
+<p>Further on there were some horses to be seen, and a little further still
+the small tents of which the camps consisted. We kept up a constant
+fire, but the enemy seemed to have sufficient cover on the kopje&mdash;and
+they were very obstinate. For some time the firing from the shoulders of
+the pass ceased, and in the dark shadow between the high mountains we
+for a moment had the feeling that we had been deserted by our men&mdash;only
+for a moment, for we knew it could not be! The game was in our hands.</p>
+
+<p>The sun sank lower, and we felt if the enemy were not soon compelled, to
+surrender they <a name="Page_55" id="Page_55" />would escape in the dark. There was still one position
+which must be taken&mdash;the last reef, to which most of the enemy had
+retired from the position we now occupied. One of our men, therefore,
+let the other six fire a salvo at the kopje, and ran as hard as he could
+to a rock at a distance of twenty-five paces ahead, about halfway to the
+last reef. But now both the enemy and our own burghers, under Commandant
+Coetzee, fired at him so persistently that he was thankful to reach the
+rock. He lay there as still as possible, with his gaze fixed on the
+reef&mdash;as he lay without cover on that side. It was a most critical
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately he heard, almost at once, one of his comrades, Van Zulch,
+call out 'Oh, the white flag! Hullo, the white flag!' and he saw them
+climbing down. He lay still a moment longer to convince himself of the
+fact, and then calmly went to the last reef, where many khakies
+surrendered&mdash;and he descended with them. Now the rest of the burghers
+came running along from all directions to disarm the enemy in the
+dusk&mdash;and to take what booty there was to be had. In their eagerness to
+get as much <a name="Page_56" id="Page_56" />booty as possible, they allowed an officer, Major Scobel,
+to escape.</p>
+
+<p>As I arrived rather late on the battlefield, I cannot give any account
+of the order in which De la Rey placed his men, neither do I know the
+number of the enemy's dead and wounded, nor how many lives our victory
+cost us. I have never seen any official report concerning this battle.
+Field-Cornet Van Zulch, who with Commandant Boshoff, took the officers
+to Machadodorp, and who is at present a fellow-prisoner, tells me that
+three officers&mdash;Colonel Roberts, Lieutenants Davis and Lyall&mdash;and 210
+soldiers of the Lincolnshire Regiment were taken prisoners, and that
+four companies of the Scots Greys had early that morning escaped with
+two guns. Our loss, both dead and wounded, was not more than thirteen or
+fourteen men. The enemy had made a stubborn resistance, judging from the
+number of dead and wounded that were lying on the field. Of the seven of
+us who forced the enemy to surrender by attacking them in the rear, not
+one was injured, although we were the attacking party. They say that the
+khaki prisoners whom we left on the reef remained <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57" />there all night, and
+came down the following morning with little white flags made of the
+bandages that a soldier always carries with him, tied to twigs.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="VI" id="VI" /><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58" />VI</h2>
+
+<p class="center">GUERILLA LIFE ON THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS&mdash;NARROW ESCAPE OF PRESIDENT
+STEYN AND GENERAL DE WET.</p>
+
+<p>Commandant Boshoff had been ordered to take the prisoners to
+Machadodorp. He left my brother and me with Captain Kirsten, who had to
+reconnoitre in the direction of Rustenburg along the Magalies Mountains.
+We first of all passed through Commandonek, and found that deserted by
+the enemy. We had no adventures on our way to Rustenburg.</p>
+
+<p>The Rustenburgers, who had nearly all laid down their arms and taken the
+oath of neutrality, took courage when they saw De la Rey's big commando,
+and joined us one and all.</p>
+
+<p>Then we recognised a great fault in the character of our people. Without
+the slightest <a name="Page_59" id="Page_59" />compunction, they first fail in loyalty to their own
+country, and then break the oath of neutrality, although the enemy had
+in no single respect violated their part of the contract. Some of them
+we, in a way, forced to join us, as we took the guns and horses of the
+unwilling ones or of those who acted at all in a suspicious way. We also
+called them traitors. But most of the burghers joined us of their own
+free will. Many had not taken the oath of neutrality, as they had been
+beyond the reach of the enemy; others had, after Lord Roberts'
+threatening proclamations, ridden over to the enemy to give up their
+arms, but had given up their old rifles and kept the Mausers for
+'eventualities,' to use the now historical word of Sir Alfred Milner.</p>
+
+<p>A few of the oath-breakers tried to excuse themselves by the Jesuit plea
+that either they did not mean what they swore or else they had purposely
+changed the form of the oath. In judging those who broke the oath of
+neutrality later on, we must remember that the enemy did not keep to
+their part of the contract, and so our men were justified in considering
+it as null and void, and, according to William Stead, <a name="Page_60" id="Page_60" />their forcing us
+to take the oath of neutrality was against the Geneva Convention. But it
+is too difficult a question for me to discuss.</p>
+
+<p>When the enemy, a few days later, drove us from Olifantsnek, General de
+la Rey sent Captain Kirsten with twenty men to the neighbouring kopjes
+to prevent the enemy from going on a plundering expedition. Then I for
+the first time saw a farm-house burnt down by the enemy. From a high
+kopje, by the aid of a telescope, we could distinctly see the movements
+of the khakies. The bitter feeling that was roused in us in our
+helplessness is not to be described.</p>
+
+<p>General Baden-Powell was in Rustenburg, and Magatonek was also in
+possession of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>It was a most interesting and adventurous time that we spent near the
+Magalies Mountains. By day we went reconnoitring along the hills near
+the mountains in the direction of Olifantsnek, and towards evening we
+withdrew into the thick woods of the kloofs, where it was delightfully
+warm both for ourselves and for our horses. When a small number of the
+enemy came in our direction, we fired at them <a name="Page_61" id="Page_61" />unexpectedly from the
+hills, and so protected the farm-houses on the mountain-sides.
+Occasionally the khakies ventured a little nearer, but always had to
+retreat in disorder.</p>
+
+<p>I once nearly fell into the hands of the enemy. As we were reconnoitring
+on one of the kopjes, I suggested to a friend that we should go to the
+farm in front of us, where none of us had been since Olifantsnek was in
+possession of the enemy. We had to ford a donga closed in by barbed
+wire. When we got to the farm, we were told that the enemy had not been
+there, with the exception of a khaki who had lost his way. He had taken
+six eggs from a nest in a kraal and swallowed them greedily, and had
+then passed on to the garden without speaking a word to the harmless,
+inquisitive women of the farm.</p>
+
+<p>For safety's sake I put the boys on guard and had the horses tied. The
+view was so enclosed on all sides that the enemy could appear most
+unexpectedly from Olifantsnek. We had been there only a short time, when
+we were told that the enemy were coming in large numbers from the
+direction of Rustenburg. We mounted at once and rode back, but could
+<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62" />not get back to our comrades on the hills because of the barbed wire in
+the donga. We had gone only about 250 paces along the drift, when the
+enemy came riding along. Fortunately, they were intent on plunder and
+did not see us, as they kept their eyes fixed in the direction of the
+house. If we had been a few seconds later we should have fallen into
+their hands. The few burghers on the kopjes began to fire at them, and
+when I got to the top of one of the kopjes I saw the enemy&mdash;about 100 in
+number&mdash;fleeing in great disorder. This expedition cost them several
+dead and wounded, besides their plunder&mdash;meal, fowls, and other
+things&mdash;that they dropped in their flight.</p>
+
+<p>When I went back to the farm later on, I was told that one of the girls
+had clapped her hands with delight when the enemy fled past them. That
+must have been the reason why she and her family were so cruelly
+insulted and plundered by the khakies afterwards. We met with great
+kindness during our stay in the Magalies Mountains. We always got
+something to eat, and towards evening we bought some loaves of bread to
+take back with us to <a name="Page_63" id="Page_63" />our hiding-place. In those days we could always
+get forage for our horses, and they were in very good condition.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile General de la Rey had gone with a commando to the west of
+Rustenburg, and had left two Commandants in the Zwartkoppen, to the
+north-east of Rustenburg.</p>
+
+<p>When we got the tidings that the enemy had taken possession of
+Selikatsnek, we went as rapidly as we could to the Zwartkoppen. We had
+many adventures on our way. My brother and I rode on ahead, thinking
+that the others would follow, but they went a round-about way, and so
+did not catch us up. When we left the wide tract of wood that stretches
+along the Magalies Mountains, we noticed that the enemy from Rustenburg
+had come to meet the column from Selikatsnek. Fortunately, our horses
+were good, and we escaped the danger by riding back into the wood to a
+farm that I knew of. While we were giving our horses a rest there, a
+despatch-rider came along looking for a reconnoitring corps. We rode
+with him in the track of our comrades, who had taken a great circuit
+round Rustenburg. We arrived safely at Zwartkoppen, and <a name="Page_64" id="Page_64" />immediately
+joined Commandant Boshoff, who had just returned from Machadodorp.</p>
+
+<p>The Commandants now followed General de la Rey. We came up with his
+commando to the west of Rustenburg, where he had surrounded a party of
+the enemy. Commandant Boshoff, however, was immediately sent to
+Olifantsnek, as the enemy had left Rustenburg and the pass was clear.
+Our men were most changeable in their moods. The slightest favourable
+tidings raised their spirits, but any unfavourable news made their
+courage sink into their shoes. There was much talk about the retreating
+movement of the enemy. Some spoke of intervention; others said the
+English soldiers had refused to fight any longer, or that the whole of
+the colony was in rebellion. This talk went the round even among the
+officers, probably because they did not understand the enemy's
+movements.</p>
+
+<p>Now we know the meaning of it all. It was De Wet who was being followed.
+We were not two days at Olifantsnek, when, to our great surprise, De Wet
+arrived with a commando of 2,800 men, followed by 40,000 English. He
+<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65" />had been by treason separated along with Steyn from the chief commando,
+and had been chased by the enemy a month already.</p>
+
+<p>It was a great lager that advanced through Olifantsnek&mdash;the largest
+commando that we had seen yet, with numerous carts, waggons, beasts of
+burden, and other belongings. And it was then I made the acquaintance of
+President Steyn and De Wet. Our Commandant with his men accompanied
+President Steyn to Machadodorp to President Kruger. We put up our tents
+for the time being next to those of President Steyn, so that we had time
+and opportunity enough to learn to know him. When the enemy a few days
+later broke through at Magatonek, to the west of Rustenburg, General De
+Wet sent for me one evening and ordered me to take a report to
+Rustenburg, and gave me some instructions for the Commandants there.</p>
+
+<p>I had to take a message for President Steyn also, that the ambulance of
+the Orange Free State was to follow the lager in the direction of the
+Krokodil River.</p>
+
+<p>Late at night I arrived at Rustenburg, only to find that the lagers had
+already taken flight. <a name="Page_66" id="Page_66" />The enemy were expected at any moment. But the
+ambulance was there still, and all night long I led it in the direction
+the General had told me the lagers would take.</p>
+
+<p>Late the following morning I arrived at De Wet's lager, which had moved
+a few hours further on to Sterkstroom. The commando left there that
+afternoon, and went along the Magalies Mountains to Commandonek. That
+day and that night we had a first experience of the long tiresome
+marches that enabled De Wet to mislead the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>That night President Steyn made a most favourable impression on us with
+his talk. He did not try to encourage us with hopes of intervention, but
+merely pointed out that the war might last a long time still, and that
+we would have to enter the Colony.</p>
+
+<p>At Commandonek we rested a few hours while De Wet himself went to
+reconnoitre. He sent a message to the English officer in charge of the
+pass that he must surrender. The officer replied that he did not quite
+understand <i>who</i> must surrender&mdash;he or De Wet. I think this was merely a
+dodge on De Wet's part to find out by the signature of the <a name="Page_67" id="Page_67" />reply who
+was in charge of the army at the pass, and so to make a guess at the
+numbers of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>He decided not to attack the pass, and before daybreak next day we were
+on the move again. Some time afterwards at Warmbad I heard that an
+English General had related this dodge of De Wet's, but he thought De
+Wet had threatened him with a very small force, as his commando must
+still have been at Olifantsnek. It is an example of the way we misled
+the enemy by our mobility.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="VII" id="VII" /><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68" />VII</h2>
+
+<p class="center">WITH PRESIDENT STEYN TO PRESIDENT KRUGER</p>
+
+
+<p>Near Krokodil River, on Carlyle's Farm, President Steyn and his
+attendants separated from De Wet's commando, and went in the direction
+of Zoutpan to Machadodorp. We were about seventy-five men in all. The
+little commando consisted of carts, a few trolleys, and horsemen on
+strong, well-conditioned horses. The Free Staters nearly all had one or
+two spare horses. Our own commando still always consisted of twelve or
+thirteen men, and the small ambulance waggon which we used for
+provisions. The French doctor had remained behind with De la Rey. We
+moved very fast. At Zoutpan&mdash;a sunken kopje like the mouth of a crater,
+with a pan at the bottom, from which the salt is got&mdash;I met some old
+acquaintances, <a name="Page_69" id="Page_69" />who pretended to have come there for salt. During our
+talk my suspicions were roused by their curiosity, and by their
+knowledge of President Steyn's arrival. I also doubted their tale that
+their trolley stood behind a kopje, and not at Zoutpan, and I warned the
+Commandant against them. He became very anxious, and made us move on as
+rapidly as possible, for once we had crossed the Pienaars River all
+danger from khaki would be past. It was a good thing that the Commandant
+made us travel so fast, for we had only just outspanned at Pienaars
+River the following morning when the khakies' bomb-Maxim began firing at
+the outposts of General Grobler's Waterberg commando, which was
+stationed there. We had only just time to inspan and ride off to the
+Boschveld, towards the Olifants River, where we would be safe, while
+General Grobler disappeared in the direction of Warmbad.</p>
+
+<p>At Pienaars River I made the acquaintance of General Celliers, who was
+loudly proclaiming the way in which he would squash khaki if only the
+burghers would fight. He is the exception to the rule that all braggarts
+are <a name="Page_70" id="Page_70" />cowards. Most of the braggarts have gradually disappeared from the
+scene, but the deeds of this hero were always in accordance with his
+words.</p>
+
+<p>We heard afterwards that a detachment of the enemy had followed us, but
+we had had too great a start, and had besides taken a short-cut of which
+they knew nothing. It would not have been easy for the khakies to
+overtake a well-mounted commando like President Steyn's.</p>
+
+<p>We were also told that the enemy knew of the arrival of President Steyn,
+which strengthened my belief that the two suspicious characters at
+Zoutpan were the informers. Whenever we, as the attacking party, made
+prisoners, they always declared that they had known all about our plan
+of attack&mdash;probably to discourage us with the thought that through the
+treachery of our own people the enemy always knew all about our
+movements.</p>
+
+<p>For a long way we followed the same road that we had taken with
+Commandant Boshoff to Rustenburg. We arrived safely at Waterval-Boven
+(President Kruger having already retreated from Machadodorp), where we
+stayed a few days and heard the famous Battle of <a name="Page_71" id="Page_71" />Dalmanutha (August
+27)&mdash;the most awful roar of cannon that I have ever heard.</p>
+
+<p>From Waterval-Boven we went to Nelspruit, to which President Kruger had
+moved in his railway-home. We gave our horses a week's rest and passed
+the time fishing and hunting. We were content there, as we got plenty to
+eat, and our horses, too, were well fed&mdash;an important matter to us just
+then. Circumstances were forcing us to attach much value to all sorts of
+trifles that we would formerly not even have noticed.</p>
+
+<p>If once one has suffered the pangs of hunger, one learns to value the
+comfort and luxury of home; and if one has wandered about for weeks
+without seeing woman or child, one learns to appreciate their gentleness
+and charm and to understand Schiller's Z&uuml;chtige Hausfrau in 'Das Lied
+von der Glocke.' How often in our wanderings we longed for good
+literature during our long, tiring, monotonous rides! And how terrible
+was the thought of the moral hurt we were suffering&mdash;voluntarily in a
+way, yet forced to it by a sense of honour and duty. For in this lay the
+grievousness of the war, that a powerful nation&mdash;influenced by <a name="Page_72" id="Page_72" />a few
+unscrupulous leaders&mdash;was trying to annihilate a small nation that
+demanded the right of existence, and was therefore forced to defend that
+right. It was a happy time for us when we had the opportunity of turning
+our thoughts towards literature and other things than commando work.</p>
+
+<p>The privations that we had already endured were small indeed in
+comparison to those which awaited us. It was well with the Uitlander
+optimist who remained in our country while the Republics could give him
+the comforts he demanded as his right, but who, as soon as things went
+wrong, and he saw nothing but misery in the future, left for his own
+country&mdash;there to sit in judgment on our peasant-nation. How I long for
+the gift of being able to express myself, to give a true account of the
+self-denial of our burghers and of the misery that we endured! How my
+heart bleeds when I think of the great sorrow that has come upon my poor
+people!</p>
+
+<p>When the enemy approached the Delagoa railway-line, President Steyn left
+with his escort for Hectorspruit. I had to follow with a trolley for
+which there was no room on the train. <a name="Page_73" id="Page_73" />Because of the disorder that
+reigned everywhere I had to wait nearly three days before I could start.
+I was pretty nearly famished on my arrival at Hectorspruit, and ate
+greedily of the remains of the porridge left by some burghers, among
+whom were two sons of State Secretary Reitz. President Steyn's lager had
+in the meanwhile become 250 men strong, under Commandant Lategan, and
+was then at Krokodil River.</p>
+
+<p>At Nelspruit I met a couple of old friends, Malherbe and Celliers, with
+whom I left for the lager. They were both Transvaalers who had been
+studying in Holland, but had returned before finishing their studies on
+account of the war. The commando was well supplied with weapons and
+ammunition, as the Delagoa Bay line brought plenty to our store. What
+became of the rest I do not know, as President Steyn was in a hurry and
+our commando left first for the North.</p>
+
+<p>The ford at Krokodil River was about fifty paces wide&mdash;made for the
+occasion and difficult to cross. The trolleys and waggons that had to
+cross to the lager on the opposite side gave us much trouble, as they
+sank deep into the sand. We harnessed a double span of oxen to the
+waggons, undressed ourselves, and had to swim alongside the animals to
+get them through. Occasionally something dropped from one of the waggons
+and had to be fished up in a hurry to save it from the strong current.
+There was much shouting and laughter, and if any crocodile had been in
+the neighborhood he would have suppressed his hunger until the storm was
+over.</p>
+
+<p>On the banks of the river there was a constant shooting at fish and game,
+and even at crocodiles, who showed themselves occasionally. There was
+game in abundance. It seemed as if all the game of the Transvaal, that
+is becoming so scarce, had fled to this part.</p>
+
+<p>We were on our way to Pietersburg through the Boschveld of South-East
+Lydenburg, which might be called a desert in winter. It was a journey
+difficult even for a trek Boer, and more than difficult for a large
+commando. A man called Bester was our guide. Some two years before he
+had made the same journey on a hunting expedition, and now he was able
+to follow the ruts which the wheels of his waggon <a name="Page_74" id="Page_74" />had made then, and
+which would be in all probability deepened by the summer rains. Our
+means of transport were chiefly carts and trolleys, on which we also put
+our bedding to lighten the burden of our riding horses<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75" />.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII" /><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76" />VIII</h2>
+
+<p class="center">WITH PRESIDENT STEYN IN THE BOSCHVELD&mdash;LOST</p>
+
+
+<p>On September 12 we left the Krokodil River early in the morning, after
+first watering our cattle and filling our water-bags. Our guide did not
+expect to come across any water before the Sabie&mdash;a river several days'
+journey further on. There were several springs on the way, but as that
+part of the country was so little known, because of its unhealthiness,
+no one could tell when the last rains had fallen.</p>
+
+<p>The shrubs and bushes had grown high above the ruts made by the waggon
+two years ago, and were a great hindrance to us. The road we followed
+twisted and wound rather more than was agreeable, but it was certainly
+easy to follow for the lagers that came after us. The horsemen rode next
+to the lagers to shoot <a name="Page_77" id="Page_77" />bucks. We had no 'slaughter-cattle' with us, so
+had to live on the game that we shot.</p>
+
+<p>In the neighbourhood of the river we still came across birds and
+insects, but the further we went the more monotonous and <i>dead</i> Nature
+became. I could never have pictured such a lifeless wood to myself. No
+sound of insects was to be heard, no chirp or song of bird; and not even
+the trail of a serpent was to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>There was a melancholy stillness. Traces of game were in abundance. It
+seemed as if only those animals lived there which, accustomed to the
+monotonous silence, withdrew noiselessly from the gaze of the
+interloper, or, in their ignorant curiosity, stood still until a
+hunter's bullet warned them or put an end to their lives. To them we
+must have been strange disturbers of the peace. Shots fell in all
+directions; sometimes a whole salvo was discharged when we came upon a
+herd of bucks. There were many thornless trees growing in their stately
+height far above the usual scrub of the Boschveld. Our horses often
+grazed on the sweet buffalo grass that always grows under trees. Looked
+at from a rise, the Boschveld <a name="Page_78" id="Page_78" />appeared to be nothing but trees&mdash;trees
+as far as the eye could see. One shuddered at the thought of what would
+become of anyone who lost his way there, since for miles and miles there
+was no water to be seen and no trail to go by. It made one hurry back to
+the safety of the lager, trusting to the capability of the guide.</p>
+
+<p>To our great joy, the first spring contained water. It was a large pool
+surrounded by rocks, where the game was accustomed to drink. We arrived
+there towards afternoon, rested a few hours, and continued our journey
+with fresh courage. As the waggons moved too slowly for our liking, we
+rode on ahead; but the consequence was that, when it got dark and we
+off-saddled, we had no bedding, for nearly all the waggons were obliged
+to outspan when darkness set in, as there was no road.</p>
+
+<p>We knee-haltered our horses in case there were lions about, and
+collected a large quantity of wood to keep the fire going all night.
+That night our talk, of course, ran upon lion-hunting and shooting
+expeditions. Then we crept as close to the fire as possible, and were
+soon in a troubled, or untroubled, sleep, dreaming of <a name="Page_79" id="Page_79" />lions and other
+wild animals. But I felt the cold very much, and could not sleep without
+my rug, and kept turning from side to side to get as much warmth from
+the fire as possible. If only I had made two fires! In a battle I have
+been between two fires, and did not find it at all agreeable, but in
+this case it would have been different.</p>
+
+<p>I lay awake, waiting for the third fire, the red dawn, but not in a
+poetical mood. There is a time for everything; that I learnt during the
+war. Rain is lovely, and cold gives energy, but one must be warm to
+appreciate it. As I lay thus, four mules, tethered together, came closer
+and closer up to our fire, grazing all the while. I lay still, listening
+to the peculiar noise made by the biting off of each mouthful of grass.
+I seemed to expect a joke, and suddenly one of the mules fell on his
+back. In a moment all our heroes were up and ready to defend themselves
+against lions or khakies, according to their different dreams. I
+laughed, and laughed again, so that the hyenas could hear me a mile off,
+and the startled lion-hunters began to laugh also, so that we woke up
+the whole camp. This little episode made my blood <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80" />circulate, so that I
+very soon also was in the land of dreams.</p>
+
+<p>As the burghers chased all the game on ahead of the lager, the President
+and Commandant Boshoff agreed to go in advance, so as to have a chance
+of seeing the numerous kinds of wild buck and larger game. I went with
+them. Greatly to my distress I forgot to ask our guide what direction we
+would take that day with regard to the sun. An experienced hunter would
+not have forgotten it, as he knows from experience that in the
+excitement of the chase we often leave the beaten track. I had to pay
+dearly for my forgetfulness. I rode some distance to the left of the
+President, but took care to keep him in sight. But the Boer is
+wonderfully disobedient to any authority, and not long after two men
+made their appearance to my left, and I saw that if I did not look out
+they would be ahead of me in no time, and chase all the game away from
+me. As the donga next to which we rode seemed to be a favourite resort
+for game, I took the same direction as they did, more to the left. The
+dongas ran into each other with numerous bends and curves, and were
+some<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81" />times overgrown with high grass, then again quite bare. I paid no
+attention to the direction we took.</p>
+
+<p>After a while one of the men wounded a buck, and they both rode into the
+donga after it. I rode on, to cross the donga a little further on, so as
+not to have to follow in the track of the other two, and saw a red buck
+on the other side, which I wounded so badly that it seemed unnecessary
+to fire again, and I rode leisurely towards it. But when I had crossed
+the donga the buck had disappeared, and I began to seek for the traces
+of blood, but I soon had to give up the search, not to lose sight of the
+other two men. They, however, seemed to be a great distance off, as I
+did not overtake them, and I did not succeed in tracing them in the
+direction that the wounded buck had led them, as the track in the grass
+was invisible to my inexperienced eye.</p>
+
+<p>I rode back to the donga, and deliberated on the course to take. In all
+directions I heard shots, right and left, but I stood irresolute. I had
+no watch with me to find the four quarters of the wind, but the sun had
+only just risen, and I made a guess with an imaginary compass. <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82" />It was
+lucky for me that I made such a good guess, and had paid great attention
+to the direction we had taken with regard to the sun. I was certain that
+I should come upon the traces of the lager if only I kept within the
+sides of a right angle, unless the lager had at the start taken a sharp
+turn to the right or left.</p>
+
+<p>But it was possible that in our excitement we might have crossed the
+waggon track which the lager was to follow; then the lager would be far
+to the right. Standing thus like the ass between two bundles of hay, I
+was not in the mood to think lightly of my case, but had to act at once,
+so I chose the safest and more probable of the two sides of my right
+angle&mdash;namely, the left, as I would then in any case not be moving
+towards Portuguese territory, and could always turn to the Krokodil
+River.</p>
+
+<p>I felt pretty certain now, as it was more probable that we had not
+crossed the old waggon tract, and every moment I expected to hear the
+switching of the long whips. But when I had gone some distance I was
+obliged to return to the donga, and retrace my way to the place where we
+had slept. A clever Boer would have succeeded in finding the way back,
+<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83" />but I soon lost my way altogether. I lost the traces of the horse's
+hoofs, and the dongas looked to me so different that in one place where
+a donga branched off I did not know which to follow. An intense feeling
+of desolation took possession of me. Lost in a wilderness without food
+or water! I thought of the twelve or thirteen men who got lost in this
+wood on a hunting expedition, and of whom only one was saved. A great
+fear came upon me. Gradually I became calmer, and tried to form some
+plan of action. I resolved to keep to the left, where I had already seen
+a solitary mountain. Perhaps water was to be found there.</p>
+
+<p>My gun was loaded with Dum-Dum bullets, specially prepared for bucks. I
+had filed through the steel to the lead, so that the bullet would expand
+at once when it came into contact with bone. I found a buck tame in its
+very wildness, but I missed it, for the aim of my gun, a fine sporting
+Mauser, had been bent by the branches of the trees. It was a good thing
+that I did not come across a lion, or, rather, that a lion did not come
+across me.</p>
+
+<p>I had to ride under trees, through shrubs <a name="Page_84" id="Page_84" />and grass, and had to keep a
+sharp look-out, as the king of beasts sometimes takes the lords of
+creation unawares. And I had to look out for an opportunity to shoot a
+buck&mdash;the only food within my reach. The nearer I came to the mountain,
+the surer I was that I had lost my way completely, and the more I became
+reconciled to my fate. I planned how I should build a large fire in the
+night for myself and my horse, and how I should defend myself against a
+lion with a burning piece of wood.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly my horse went faster and pushed to the left. Greatly to my
+astonishment, I saw that the attraction was a little stream of water
+that he had scented in a donga. I off-saddled, and let my horse graze in
+the luxuriant grass.</p>
+
+<p>Now I was strengthened in my belief that I had taken the wrong
+direction, for we were all under the impression that we should not soon
+reach water. I prepared some more Dum-Dum bullets with a small file that
+I carried in my pocket, and did not let my horse graze long, but
+hastened to the mountain to find a better shelter for the night. To my
+great joy, I came upon the wide road about a thousand paces further on.
+I followed the road along the <a name="Page_85" id="Page_85" />mountain for half an hour, when I came
+upon the lager, camped near a stream&mdash;probably the same stream at which
+I and my horse had quenched our thirst.</p>
+
+<p>As we sat round our fires that night we heard shots fired in the
+distance from the direction that we had come. Some men were sent out
+immediately, and returned after a while with a man quite exhausted from
+hunger and thirst, and paralyzed with fear; he had been unable to
+overtake the lager.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="IX" id="IX" /><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86" />IX</h2>
+
+<p class="center">PRACTICAL HINTS&mdash;ADVENTURE ON THE SABIE&mdash;NORTH OF LYDENBURG</p>
+
+
+<p>Experience teaches us. The knowledge that we have gained in this war we
+must pass on to the coming generation. It may be of use in a war of the
+future, or on some other occasion. Therefore Oom Dietlof will take this
+opportunity to give his nephews in South Africa some practical hints
+that may be of use to a burgher in his travels or in a war. If anyone
+loses his way in the same way that I have just described, he must
+remember the following way of finding the four quarters of the wind:</p>
+
+<p>The small hand of a watch describes a circle in twelve hours, while the
+apparent movement of the sun round the earth is in twenty-four hours.
+The movement of the small hand is <a name="Page_87" id="Page_87" />therefore twice as fast as that of
+the sun. If one points the small hand of a horizontal-lying watch to the
+sun at twelve o'clock, then the hands and the figure XII. lie in the
+meridian as well as the sun.</p>
+
+<p>In the northern half-circle the sun and the hands move in the same
+direction. In one hour's time the small hand goes a distance of 360&deg;/12
+= 30&deg;, and the sun goes a distance of 360&deg;/24 = 15&deg;. If at one o'clock
+one points the small hand of a horizontal-lying watch to the sun, the
+line that divides the acute angle between the figures I. and XII. lies
+in the meridian. So one can always find the meridian.</p>
+
+<p>In the southern half-circle the sun and hands move in opposite
+directions, therefore one must point the figure XII. to the sun, and
+then divide the acute angle between the figure XII. and the small hand
+to find the meridian.</p>
+
+<p>In this way one can at any time find out the direction one has taken.
+But everyone has not always a good watch, and the sun sometimes hides
+behind the clouds. Then it is better to have a good compass&mdash;but better
+still not to lose one's way.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88" />Besides such simple articles as a pocket-knife, a water-bag, etc.,
+which are indispensable to a traveller in our country, everyone ought to
+carry with him a good plaster, a nosebag, and some snake poison; maize
+(mealies) for his horse, the cheapest and most strengthening food that
+we know of, can always be carried in the nosebag. Snake poison prepared
+by a good Kaffir doctor is the only cure for snake-bites or the bite of
+any poisonous insect. The Kaffirs prepare it from some (to us) unknown
+shrub, and from the poison of the most venomous snake, which they make
+into a powder. This powder is used as an antidote by swallowing a small
+dose&mdash;enough to cover the point of a pocket-knife&mdash;and also by applying
+some to the bite, after first having cut an opening into the bitten part
+with a pocket-knife. Some people protect themselves against the poison
+of a snake-bite by regularly swallowing some of the poison and
+vaccinating themselves with it. One can even protect one's self in this
+way against the bite of the poisonous file-snake of the Boschveld&mdash;a
+snake the shape of a three-cornered file, sometimes from 3 to 4 feet
+long. It is a fact that the person whose body is proof <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89" />against the
+poison of a snake-bite is never bitten, as he is feared by snakes.
+Formerly I doubted it, but I have myself seen people who have made
+themselves proof against a bite in this way, and I have also heard it
+from people in whom I have the utmost faith.</p>
+
+<p>Alcohol is also a good antidote, provided one takes it immediately and
+in such quantities that it goes to the head. I would recommend everyone
+always to take a small quantity of brandy with him on commando, if
+experience had not taught me that some take even a mosquito-bite as an
+excuse to 'take a drop,' and I am against that on principle.</p>
+
+<p>Often while loading my horse the thought struck me whether the poor
+brute ever had a wish to protest, 'Surely this is becoming too bad!' and
+that reminds me that one must be very careful not to overload. The
+knapsack must not be filled with kaboe mealies (roasted maize) for one's
+self, while the nosebag of the poor horse remains empty.</p>
+
+<p>More than one prisoner of war has bitterly regretted that he did not
+take his horse's power of endurance into greater consideration. Now I
+must take up the thread of my tale.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90" />The following morning the lager would start at three o'clock, and, as
+my horse was in good condition, the owner of the horse that had been
+left behind asked me to fetch it before the lager left. He explained to
+me where I would find it tied to a tree about half an hour's ride from
+the lager, so I started with a friend at about two o'clock at night. On
+the way we came across a mule that had wandered away while grazing,
+ignorant of all the danger he was exposing himself to in the uninhabited
+Boschveld. The creature gave us much trouble by refusing to be caught
+and constantly dodging behind a tree, so we lost a great deal of time.
+On our way back, close to the lager, we heard the whine of the wild-dog,
+the well-known feared wolf. We thought it very interesting to come
+across a wild animal of which we had no fear just then. But when we
+reached the camping-ground of the lager, where only the trolley stood to
+which the wandering mule belonged, we found to our surprise that both
+white men and Kaffirs had given up the search for the mule for fear of
+the wild-dog. They had all congregated round large fires. The wild-dog,
+however, is harmless by himself; like <a name="Page_91" id="Page_91" />the khakies, his strength lies in
+numbers. We had to leave the sick horse to join the bucks of the
+Boschveld on its recovery, until the horse-sickness came. After a long,
+tiring, but very interesting ride we arrived at the Sabie, where the
+rest of the lager was already encamped. The Sabie is about the size of
+the Krokodil River, and its scenery of woods and valleys formed a sharp
+contrast to the deadly monotony of the Boschveld that lay behind us. We
+had crossed the bare desert and were now in a part of the country
+inhabited by Kaffirs. The following day the lager was removed half an
+hour further on, and there we remained a few days.</p>
+
+<p>At night four of us were persuaded to go eel-catching in a
+crocodile-pool that we had discovered a little further on. We made a
+large fire to entice the eels, and, as we were none of us great lovers
+of angling, we made a splendid bonfire, as there was plenty of dry wood
+to be had.</p>
+
+<p>There was something particularly attractive in these large fires on
+those quiet, dark nights of the wilderness. The glow threw a sombre
+light on the water that gave one a creepy feeling, as if a crocodile
+were on the watch for <a name="Page_92" id="Page_92" />us in the water, and lions at our back between
+the large trees. What must they have thought of us?</p>
+
+<p>The bank of the river seemed to be about 6 feet high, and not very
+steep. We made the fire closer and closer to what seemed the bank. I saw
+someone lift up a huge branch, walk to the bank with it, and plant his
+left foot firmly on the ground. The reeds gave way beneath him. What
+seemed a firm bank, by the glow of the fire, proved to be a mass of
+reeds and grass, and the poor man fell down a height of 6 feet, his fall
+being hastened by the heavy branch he held. For a moment we stood
+irresolute. To jump after him into a crocodile-pool! But he called for
+help, and we had to act immediately. Fortunately, one acts almost
+instinctively in such cases. One of the others slid down the bank&mdash;the
+thought striking him: 'If only there are not two crocodiles!' Landing on
+a horizontal branch, he stretched out his hand to the drowning man,
+someone else took hold of his left hand, and so they were both saved. If
+a crocodile had been in the neighbourhood, he would probably have stood
+on the defensive. Such a queer, two-legged animal <a name="Page_93" id="Page_93" />who led the attack in
+such a strange but decided way must have roused his respect.</p>
+
+<p>This piece of fun put an end to our eel-fishing. We had caught only one
+eel&mdash;and a man.</p>
+
+<p>The following morning there was parade for President Steyn. His speech
+to us was touching and to the point, and showed that he believed in a
+good ending to the war, if the burghers were capable of enduring such
+hardships as at present. Then he also told us in what a hurry he was to
+reach his burghers, as he was afraid that the enemy were doing all in
+their power to make them turn against him. We all liked President Steyn
+very much.</p>
+
+<p>On our journey through the Selatie Goldfields, past the Marietje River
+to Pilgrim's Rest, we crossed the steepest mountain that I have ever
+seen. A double span of oxen was harnessed to each waggon. The oxen were
+lent us for the occasion by the Boers living on the plateau in front of
+us. After every few steps upwards we had to put stones under the wheels
+to prevent the waggons from slipping back. It took our little lager
+nearly all day to reach the plateau. Then we had a most mag<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94" />nificent
+view of the Boschveld that lay behind us. In the distance the Lobombo
+Mountains were visible on the boundary of the Portuguese and Transvaal
+territory. The first rains had fallen on the plateau, so the green grass
+was a refreshing change for our eyes. The horses would be able to graze
+well, and the good feeding would soon make them lose their old coats,
+and then they would be sleek and glossy again.</p>
+
+<p>From the high plateau we descended, over a 'lumpy' veld, with an oasis
+here and there in a hole or valley, or on the top of a hill, to
+Pilgrim's Rest. Some miles before we reached this little town we passed
+beside the water-works that supply a strong stream of water for the
+machinery of the gold-mines. We simply stormed the shops, that were
+still well supplied with provisions, and bought all sorts of luxuries
+and necessaries for our journey. From Pilgrim's Rest we once more
+crossed a steep mountain, along a road that for length and height has
+not its equal. In the neighbourhood of Ohrigstad, a little town that we
+left to our right, I asked a Boer woman whether the fever did not make
+one's life impossible there, <a name="Page_95" id="Page_95" />and I got a very na&iuml;f reply: 'No; this
+year the fever was not so bad. We all got ill, but not one of us died.'</p>
+
+<p>The rest of our journey to the north of Lydenburg, over Spekstroom
+River, along Watervalop, over Steenkampsberg to Roossenekal, was very
+tedious. The uninhabited Boschveld was very interesting, and we had
+sufficient provisions then, but the poor, uncivilized Boer inhabitants
+of the Lydenburg district were unable to supply us with necessaries, the
+want of which we were beginning to feel. We could not buy a loaf of
+bread anywhere. And it is anything but pleasant in a time of war to come
+across such lax and unenergetic people as they proved to be. The men
+were nearly always at home, and appeared to be discouraged and unwilling
+to fight. We had all lost our sweet tooth. That one could tell by such
+expressions as: 'Even if you give me sugar:&mdash;' But occasionally we got a
+more desirable substitute, when a beehive was discovered in a cleft of a
+rock. Some of our men are particularly clever at discovering a hive. I
+have often seen a man stand gazing up at the sky, walk on a short
+distance, and <a name="Page_96" id="Page_96" />again stand gazing, and after awhile appear with a bucket
+of honey. By watching the flight of the bees they find out in what
+direction the hive is. A practised eye can see the rising and settling
+of the bees above the hive from a great distance.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="X" id="X" /><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97" />X</h2>
+
+<p class="center">FROM ROOSSENEKAL TO PIETERSBURG&mdash;WITH GENERAL BEYERS TO THE MAGALIES
+MOUNTAINS</p>
+
+
+<p>We went in a very different direction from that of General Ben Viljoen's
+commando, which took the road to Pietersburg through Leydsdorp.
+President Steyn celebrated the anniversary of his birthday at
+Roossenekal, and addressed us in the same spirit as on the former
+occasion at the Sabie.</p>
+
+<p>Roossenekal is famous for its caves, or grottos, in which the Mapochers
+hid themselves so well during the Mapoch War. We made use of the
+opportunity to visit the grottos, of whose formation I should like to
+know more. What appeared on the outside to be an ordinary hill proved a
+most wonderful natural building containing many rooms. The <a name="Page_98" id="Page_98" />old kraal
+walls and the peach-trees and 'Turkish figs', (prickly-pears), overgrown
+by wild trees, and an occasional earthen vessel, were the remains of the
+Kaffir city. Of course we cut our names into the rocks by way of
+becoming immortal. We could not help speaking with great admiration of
+the wild Kaffir tribe who from such a hiding-place fought for months for
+a life of independence. We had no time to visit the grottos further
+away.</p>
+
+<p>Although our horses were well fed during this time of rest, they
+profited little, on account of the constant cold rains that fell. We
+fortunately still had some tents, that we used only in case of rain. Our
+Commandant was still always in doubt whether to proceed to Pietersburg,
+for we were quite ignorant of the enemy's movements during the last few
+weeks. Later on, when he got the information that the enemy were
+stationed at Pinaars River bridge, and that we could not with safety
+pass Warmbad and Pinaars River, we had to turn off at Kobaltmyn to the
+right to cross Olifants River lower down. We had already passed
+Kobaltmyn in the beginning of July on our journey after General de la
+Rey. The latter part of <a name="Page_99" id="Page_99" />our journey, along Olifants River, through
+Zebedelsland to Pietersburg, was exhausting for man and horse. Some of
+us often had nothing but a little rice and a small piece of meat for
+several days in succession. There was scarcely any grass for our horses,
+and yet we had to ride hard night and day.</p>
+
+<p>After a tiring journey of fully a month, President Steyn's commando
+arrived at Pietersburg on October 11. Although we had always intended to
+follow President Steyn to De Wet, my brother and I, with Malherbe, now
+accepted an invitation from my uncle, Ignace Mar&eacute;, to stay awhile on his
+farm at Marabastad. President Steyn left with his commando for
+Nylstroom. Our horses were worn out, and could not follow the commando.
+Most of the men had a spare horse that was still in good condition, and
+although my brother and I had only one horse apiece, we often had to do
+the hardest work.</p>
+
+<p>My aunt and uncle did their best to make our stay a pleasant one, and
+our horses were well fed. Soon General Ben Viljoen's commando arrived at
+Marabastad, and stayed there a few weeks, so that we also experienced
+<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100" />the discomfort arising from a lager camped on one's farm. The Boer is
+deprived by it of all necessaries, and all sorts and conditions of men
+constantly visit his house. Some of them, the riff-raff of the commando,
+are very unwelcome guests, for they do much mischief intentionally, and
+thereby give the commando a very bad name. The poles to which the wire
+is attached for camping at a farm were yet left undamaged. The burghers
+were still accustomed to get plenty of dry wood in the Boschveld, and
+were not yet so demoralized as to work damage without scruple.</p>
+
+<p>We stayed at my uncle's far longer than we at first intended. My saddle
+had chafed the horse's back so severely that I could not ride it for
+several months. My brother got an attack of malaria, and just as he was
+recovering had a relapse, so that President Steyn was so far in advance
+of us that there was no question of overtaking him.</p>
+
+<p>The commando had already left Marabastad when we started for
+Tweefontein, near Warmbad, on our now strong, sleek horses. There we
+joined Commandant Kemp, of the Krugersdorp commando, under Wyk III., who
+had <a name="Page_101" id="Page_101" />parted from Ben Viljoen at Marabastad because the latter had on a
+Sunday afternoon during service fired off several cannon-shots for the
+edification of a few fast women.</p>
+
+<p>Malherbe, my brother, and I formed a sort of comradeship under Corporal
+Botman&mdash;or, to put it simply, we were 'chums.' At Warmbad we heard many
+interesting things about the khakies, who had stayed there nineteen days
+on their hunt after De Wet. We could not understand why they destroyed
+the bathing-houses, unless it were to deprive our wounded of the chance
+of recovery.</p>
+
+<p>The condition of the people in Zoutpansberg and in Waterberg, where the
+enemy had been, was not very cheerful. Everyone complained that there
+was no sugar to be had, that the meal was getting low, and that soon
+there would be no clothes. Pietersburg was exhausted by the commandos,
+and the courage of the inhabitants was nearly at an ebb. They would not
+yet make the sacrifice that would part them from their families. The
+enemy had not yet driven them to despair by the destruction of their
+fields and goods.</p>
+
+<p>Every sensible person knew that the Re<a name="Page_102" id="Page_102" />publics would lose in the
+long-run in a guerilla war unless something unforeseen happened. At the
+time that we fled from Pretoria my mother said she would have hope as
+long as her 'gorillas' remained in the veld. Even if we clung to a
+straw, the possibility always remained that things might take a
+favourable turn as long as a fair number of burghers remained in the
+veld.</p>
+
+<p>The burghers from the different districts now in Waterberg were earnest
+and full of courage. Noticeable changes for the better had been made.
+Beyers, a man in whom the men had the utmost faith, was made
+Assistant-Commandant-General, and was to lead a commando of 1,500
+horsemen from Waterberg, Zoutpansberg, Krugersdorp, etc., to the
+Hoogeveld. The discipline was much stricter. Cooper and Fanie Grobler,
+who had been accused of high treason, promised to keep a sharper
+look-out for spies and traitors. And we still always hoped for an
+eventual rebellion in Cape Colony. That hope was our life-buoy on which
+we kept our eyes fixed. We felt that there our safety lay, and the
+enthusiasm of the commando was heightened by the desire to <a name="Page_103" id="Page_103" />celebrate
+Paardekraal Day in Krugersdorp on December 15. As a sailor longs for the
+sea, so we longed for a meeting with the khakies when we left for the
+Magalies Mountains in the beginning of December. Our commando was light
+and mobile, with provisions for a short time only. Such heavy cannon as
+the Long Toms were of no use to us now. Hence-forward we were to live on
+the produce of the surrounding country, as there was no basis from which
+we were to operate. Besides this, the khakies very kindly made over some
+of their provisions, arms, and ammunition to us in a skirmish or battle,
+so that afterwards we had more Lee-Metfords than Mausers in our
+possession.</p>
+
+<p>At Krokodil River I had the privilege of seeing how a honey-bird takes a
+human being to a bees' nest. As we were lying under a tree, a honey-bird
+settled close to us. Corporal Botman followed it as it flew chirping
+from tree to tree, and called to it that he was following, until the
+bird stopped at the hive. The grateful finder always rewards the bird
+with a piece of honeycomb that he puts aside for it. But I have never
+been able to discover whether <a name="Page_104" id="Page_104" />the bird or the insects eat the honey. I
+know that the 'bug-birds,' that are always seen on or near cattle, do
+not feed on the bugs with which the cattle are covered, but on the
+locusts that fly about the herd. Last week, when our guards took us for
+a walk outside the fort, I noticed that a kind of sparrow in India has
+the same trick of catching the locusts that are driven on ahead by the
+cattle.</p>
+
+<p>I shall not try to give a description of the works of the machinery that
+moved mechanically to the Magalies Mountains, for I should have to guess
+at the particulars in this historical little tale. Mechanical I call the
+journey, for there were days and nights in which we were numbed, body
+and soul, exhausted by hunger and thirst and want of sleep.</p>
+
+<p>When we were at Bethany, a convoy of the enemy was seen moving in the
+direction of Commandonek. When it noticed our guard, it dragged its
+curved body with great zeal through the pass. I think the khakies also
+must have been bored to death on those long, fruitless journeys. We left
+Bethany towards evening, and reached the Magalies Mountains the
+following morning after a tiring journey in <a name="Page_105" id="Page_105" />the night past Sterkstroom,
+through the Kromriverskloof to the foot of Onuapadnek, or
+Boschfonteinnek. (I learnt the names from the inhabitants.) In the kloof
+we passed the burnt remains of the convoy that was taken by Commandant
+Boshoff&mdash;who joined De la Rey after having taken Steyn to his
+destination&mdash;and his brave little troop of burghers. They were obliged
+to abandon the convoy, however, on the arrival of reinforcements for the
+enemy. A sickening stench came from the corpses that they had left
+unburied in their flight.</p>
+
+<p>We rested a few hours at the top of the steep nek. On descending on the
+other side we came, to our mutual surprise, upon De la Key's lager at
+the foot of the mountain on Barnard's farm.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="XI" id="XI" /><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106" />XI</h2>
+
+<p class="center">BATTLE OF NOOITGEDACHT</p>
+
+
+<p>We were busy all evening baking vet-koek (a kind of scone fried in
+lard), as we had received the order to be ready to leave the following
+morning at one o'clock, and to take provisions sufficient for two days.
+Although our officers were beginning to see the advisability of keeping
+their plans secret, we were able to guess that we were going to attack
+General Clements' camp, an hour's ride further east at
+Nooitgedacht&mdash;particularly as the chances of success, in case of an
+eventual attack, were being discussed by some of the officers. The
+general opinion was that Clements' force was 5,000 strong.</p>
+
+<p>We left quite three-quarters of an hour later than the fixed time in the
+early morning of <a name="Page_107" id="Page_107" />December 13, 1900, and recrossed the steep, narrow
+neck, took a way to our right in the Kromriverskloof, making a sharp
+turn to Elandskrans, where a strong outpost had been placed by the enemy
+on the Magalies Mountains.</p>
+
+<p>That was the crust through which we had to bite to get at the dainties
+of the booty. It cannot be denied that victory and booty, in our
+impoverished circumstances, were very close together in our thoughts.
+The enemy's camp lay at the foot of the long, high cliff that forms a
+precipice on that side of the mountain, while the slope of the mountain
+on our side was not steep, and there were a great many footholds and
+boulders. The artillery had been left in the neck of the pass to protect
+the lagers. Beyers, with some Zoutpansbergers, turned away from us to
+the right to reach Elandskrans along the mountain ridge. It appeared,
+therefore, that Beyers and Kemp were going to make the attack from the
+north, with 1,000 men, and that Kemp had the centre and the left wing.
+We were again too late. The sun had risen when we began the attack.
+Corporal Botman was ordered by Kemp to <a name="Page_108" id="Page_108" />surround the extreme right of
+the enemy's right wing, with thirty men.</p>
+
+<p>We had to storm the left to enclose the enemy in the half-circle. We
+were exposed to a rain of bullets, and had to storm through ravines and
+reefs, sometimes racing our horses, then leading them, and making use of
+every cover. General Beyers, with his splendid sharp-shooters, was
+already in hot action with the right wing, and Commandant Kemp in the
+centre had forced his way close to the enemy. We tied our horses
+together behind a reef, left them in charge of a few men, and advanced,
+spreading ourselves in groups of three, four and five. A moment of
+extreme anxiety followed.</p>
+
+<p>Not to expose ourselves unnecessarily, we had to peep from behind the
+rocks, shoot the course clear, and run to the next cover. Malherbe and I
+stayed as close as possible to our cool, collected, brave corporal, and
+we had to gasp for breath sometimes if trying to keep up to him. The
+others forced their way upwards more to the left, and so formed the
+furthest left point of the half-moon.</p>
+
+<p>While the three of us were pushing our way <a name="Page_109" id="Page_109" />from position to position
+into the neighbourhood of the few khakies who already dared not raise
+their heads from behind the rocks, I noticed, some 500 paces to our
+front, a number of khakies moving in our direction. I warned Malherbe to
+keep up his courage, as the enemy were getting reinforcements. A moment
+later, while our corporal had again moved onwards, I noticed several
+khakies on a stone ridge some 150 paces in front of us. It appeared that
+they were driven on by part of the centre and right wing, for just then
+two men made their appearance, whom I at once recognised as Boers from
+the colour of their clothes and the quick way in which they aimed at me.
+I stooped quick as a hare, and immediately rose again. The enemy now
+surrendered, I believe to the number of two or three hundred of the
+Northumberland Fusiliers, called the 'Fighting Fifth' on account of
+their courage and bravery. We also took on the mountain a heliograph
+that the enemy had broken.</p>
+
+<p>The khakies acknowledged that we had taken the position with the
+greatest possible speed. We were in the majority. But it must <a name="Page_110" id="Page_110" />not be
+forgotten that we were the attacking party and had to expose ourselves,
+and also that, although the battle on the mountain extended over a long
+line, our right wing had still to reckon with the reinforcements that
+were sent up through a narrow kloof from the camp. It was a repetition
+of Selikatsnek. The khakies had the good positions, and we had good
+cover behind the rocks on the mountain slope. In such a case he is no
+match for us.</p>
+
+<p>We went on a few hundred paces over pretty level ground, and then looked
+down upon the camp at the foot of the mountain, which consisted of
+several hundreds of tents and many waggons. Some of these waggons were
+inspanned, some were already retreating, but most of them were not yet
+inspanned. The camp lay on the grounds and by the fields of a deserted
+farm.</p>
+
+<p>Afterwards I heard that Commandant Badenhorst, of Pretoria (who had
+attacked the enemy before our arrival, at the foot of the mountain, and
+so suffered the greatest loss), was already retreating, but, hearing the
+fighting on the mountain, had renewed his attack.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy could not stand the fire that we <a name="Page_111" id="Page_111" />opened upon them, and had to
+retreat from the camp in the direction of Commandonek. The inevitable
+consequence was that the troops on the west, opposite De la Rey, had to
+retreat hurriedly so as not to be cut off by the wedge that was forcing
+its way along the mountains into the camp. They were far beyond reach of
+our bullets. Where De la Rey's cannon were, and why they did not make
+themselves heard, I do not know. Neither do I know why General Smuts did
+not cut off the retreat of the enemy to the south-east. They had placed
+a few cannon to our left in the valley, and bombarded us fiercely on the
+mountain without much result. The balls of a small Maxim flew past us
+with a hissing sound and hindered us in our aim.</p>
+
+<p>The waggons that were inspanned fled in the direction of Commandonek,
+and halted in the valley at a respectful distance from us. Although the
+camp appeared to be almost deserted, a continual firing was heard below
+us. I could not make out from where it came until I suddenly discovered
+several small troops of horsemen who galloped at intervals from behind a
+wall in the shade of some trees. They were <a name="Page_112" id="Page_112" />in all probability left
+there as cover for the waggons. The few shots we fired at them missed
+their aim. We saw De la Rey's burghers capture a large herd of cattle.</p>
+
+<p>While Malherbe and I were peering from behind our hurriedly erected
+entrenchment, and occasionally firing a few shots, I discovered four or
+five brave khakies busy dragging along an ammunition waggon, or a gun;
+from such a distance we could not distinguish which. We fired at them
+with a sight of 800 paces, but did not hit them, as the horizontal
+distance to the camp was not more than 400 paces, and we should have
+used a sight of 600 paces, but the height of the mountain was very
+misleading. Immediately afterwards a span of mules came in the direction
+of the supposed gun, so Malherbe and I retreated as fast as we could, to
+find a better cover more to the left. It is strange how in a battle one
+always has an idea that all the threatened danger is aimed specially at
+one's self.</p>
+
+<p>We had to be on the look-out not to fire at our own people, some of whom
+were already in the camp. My brother, Malherbe, and I went to the narrow
+kloof that I have already <a name="Page_113" id="Page_113" />mentioned, after a fruitless search for our
+horses, which had meanwhile been taken to the entrance of the kloof, and
+I heard from my brother that our brave General had been wounded in the
+leg by a shell. During the search for our horses we had noticed a long
+dust-cloud at the end of Kromriverskloof, near Buffelspoort, moving from
+Rustenburg in the direction of Commandonek&mdash;in all probability
+reinforcements for the enemy, arriving too late.</p>
+
+<p>The Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers, who were most undisciplined, had
+descended through the kloof in quest of booty. But the Krugersdorpers,
+formerly notorious for their rough behaviour, were now the most orderly,
+and did not descend before all the men were collected. The kloof was
+strewn with bodies of khakies, who were sent up as reinforcement and
+pitilessly shot down by the burghers. The little stream of water was red
+with blood, so that we could not even quench our thirst. Some of the
+khakies had fallen from the high cliffs, where they had to lie
+unburied&mdash;like the soldiers on Amajuba in 1881.</p>
+
+<p>We led our horses to the opening of the kloof, and then galloped into
+camp under the <a name="Page_114" id="Page_114" />thundering noise of the shells that the enemy were
+firing at us from the distance. There was no control possible among the
+burghers. Each one loaded his horse with whatever he could lay his hands
+on, and there was no thought of following up the retreating enemy. They
+did not leave us undisturbed in our glory, but aimed lyddite at us,
+which had the desired effect, that we in our disorder did not storm the
+front positions, but retreated in the direction of our camp, a quarter
+of a mile in among the trees. There Veld-Kornet Klaassen ordered his men
+to off-saddle and give the horses a rest. Meanwhile the camp was burnt,
+flames arose in all directions, and thousands of cartridges exploded.</p>
+
+<p>After we had watered our horses in a neighbouring spruit we lay down to
+rest. But ere long General De la Rey came galloping into our midst with
+a lash in his hand, calling to us whether we were not ashamed to lie
+there doing nothing, instead of following up our advantage now that we
+had the chance, when otherwise the enemy would ill-treat our women and
+children and burn down our homes. One of our corporals rather
+impertinently informed De la Rey that <a name="Page_115" id="Page_115" />he served under another General,
+and would obey no orders but his. De la Rey thereupon rode up to him and
+gave him a heavy cut with his lash. I went up to the General, and told
+him that we were quite willing to fight, and had only off-saddled for a
+rest by order of our Field-Cornet. In his rage he lifted his lash, but,
+recognising me, lowered it again. If I had aimed at getting a cut from
+him, I might have called out like the Dutch farmers, who got a box on
+the ear from Peter the Great for pressing too closely upon him while he
+was building ships at Zaandam: 'I have had one too! I have had one too!'
+We then rode with the General to the burnt camp. The enemy had not found
+the game worth the candle, and had saved their shell for a more
+favourable occasion.</p>
+
+<p>One can imagine De la Rey's indignation when he saw that waggons,
+provisions, and ammunition were nearly all burnt. He pointed out to us
+how ammunition and guns were required on every side. General Beyers,
+whom we met there, excused himself by explaining that he had ordered
+only those things to be burnt that we did not require. We then rode <a name="Page_116" id="Page_116" />to
+the other positions on the opposite side of the camp, but the enemy were
+in full flight, followed by an occasional burgher.</p>
+
+<p>I do not consider myself able to criticise the manner in which our
+officers organized this battle. But it was easy to see that a great
+mistake had been made. We had much to be thankful for, but the result
+might have been more advantageous to us. The whole camp with all its
+cannon should have been taken with a smaller loss than eighty men killed
+and wounded.</p>
+
+<p>I do not know the number of the enemy's killed and wounded. If our first
+attack had been made unanimously and unexpectedly, we could easily have
+crushed the enemy. The prisoners, as usual, pretended that they knew all
+about our plans, but why, then, were their reinforcements too late, or,
+rather, why did they never arrive? When General De la Rey organizes an
+attack, and his instructions are well carried out, the burghers have so
+much confidence in him, and like him so well, in spite of, or perhaps
+because of his violent temper, that they never have any doubt as to his
+ultimate success.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117" />The prisoners were released. In my presence they were always well
+treated, and I have seen many khaki prisoners who have never on any
+occasion been ill-treated.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="XII" id="XII" /><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118" />XII</h2>
+
+<p class="center">PAARDEKRAAL DAY&mdash;BATTLE IN THE MOAT&mdash;ATTACK ON KAALFONTEIN STATION</p>
+
+<p>From Onuapadnek our lagers went to the farm Rietfontein, near
+Witwatersrandjes, where we celebrated Paardekraal Day on December
+16&mdash;under sad circumstances, alas!</p>
+
+<p>Ds. Kriel, who constantly accompanied us in the most self-denying
+manner, in all our battles and on all our long journeys, led us in
+prayer that day. Halfway up the kopje, which we climbed in most solemn
+earnest, he offered up a prayer to God, and then impressed upon us the
+importance of the occasion. On the top of the kopje he held a short
+service. It reminded me of that which my own father held for the
+assembled burghers at Paardekraal in 1880. How true and faithful he was
+in his position as <a name="Page_119" id="Page_119" />preacher to the fighting men, and how well he served
+his adopted country!</p>
+
+<p>After General De la Rey, Smuts, Kemp, and Mr. Naud&eacute; had all addressed
+us, Ds. Kriel read out a document in which was expressed, in a few
+words, the purpose each one of us should attach to his contribution of a
+stone towards the monument to be erected there. He exhorted the burghers
+not to add a stone to the pile unless they fully understood and were in
+earnest about its meaning. So the old covenant was renewed in a
+different place under different circumstances and in a different manner
+from the Paardekraal Day of former years, and when the burghers
+descended from the kopje they were strengthened by the renewing of an
+ancient pledge in their resolution to fight to the last for their
+country and their people.</p>
+
+<p>The place where the monument was erected was called Ebenha&euml;zer.</p>
+
+<p>Between the Magalies Mountains and the Witwatersranden stretches a long
+valley called the Moat. In the centre runs a gray ridge or rand,
+parallel to the mountains, and rising into kopjes to the east, near
+Hekpoort. Thither <a name="Page_120" id="Page_120" />our commando moved a few days later to meet the
+enemy, who were approaching from Commandonek, most probably with
+revengeful intentions. The Moat was well provided with corn, and asked
+for our protection. We stayed over a day on the gray ridge. When the
+enemy advanced towards us on the day following, General De la Rey had
+taken up his position near Nooitgedacht, and so formed the left wing.
+Commandant Kemp, with his men, was at the south on the foot of the
+ridge, and Veld-Kornet van Tender, with a small troop of
+Zoutpansbergers, was on the first kopje, while General Beyers, with the
+Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers held the right wing to the west of
+Hekpoort, in Witwatersrand. The whole of that forenoon the enemy were
+ready to attack us, and we waited calmly. Towards afternoon their left
+wing moved towards the first kopje, beyond the reach of the
+Zoutpansbergers, who were on the Witwatersranden near Hekpoort. They
+began firing at the position of Veld-Kornet Van Tonder, and when he fell
+mortally wounded his Zoutpansbergers were obliged to retire from the
+kopje.</p>
+
+<p>Our Veld-Kornet, Kruger, a fine, brave <a name="Page_121" id="Page_121" />fellow, then led twenty-five of
+our men towards Hekpoort, to try and stop the enemy in their forward
+movement. As Malherbe, my brother, and I were among the twenty-five, I
+cannot tell what happened to De la Rey on the other side of the gray
+ridge. We pressed too far forward, and soon had to retreat some
+distance. Our Veld-Kornet stayed behind with a few of us, on a small
+rise, while our horses were taken some 300 paces further back, and the
+rest of our little troop rode in the direction of Hekpoort. The enemy
+already occupied the first kopje, and were firing at us from a distance.
+We quickly made an entrenchment of stones and lay waiting. But our
+people were retreating from the other kopjes, and we had to get to our
+horses as quickly as possible. A few cowardly burghers on the ridge took
+us for khakies and fired at us. Then I experienced the difference
+between the aim of Boer and khaki. The latter's bullets always flew far
+above our heads, but the former's fell terribly close to us.</p>
+
+<p>As yet we had retired in good order, but soon we fled in a panic. The
+enemy had come from Krugersdorp in very large numbers, and <a name="Page_122" id="Page_122" />already
+occupied the high Witwatersranden behind us.</p>
+
+<p>Whoever has an incapable horse had better hide in a ditch or behind a
+wall along with the poor, frightened women. More than once I have seen
+poor frightened women holding their crying children by the hand, and
+seeking a hiding-place near their houses during a battle. It is indeed a
+tragic sight!&mdash;we men, with our weapons in our hands, not able to defend
+them at such a time. And then a great feeling of shame came upon us.
+These same women had only the day before called down God's blessing upon
+us, and now they cried to us to hurry, or we would be surrounded.</p>
+
+<p>We rode at a flying gallop for fully half an hour&mdash;along the Magalies
+Mountains, between the Witwatersranden and the many smaller banks, while
+to the left the enemy were descending and firing at us. The Waterbergers
+and Zoutpansbergers, who learnt later than we did that the enemy were
+surrounding us, would all have been taken prisoners had they not forced
+their way bravely through thick and thin. As far as we can tell, our
+loss was, fortunately, only one killed.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123" />At the Manharen, a peculiar kind of kopje, we halted, but had to
+retreat further towards evening.</p>
+
+<p>Beyers' commando moved in the direction of Gatsrand, but had to turn to
+Zwartruggens, near Rustenburg, when it reached the farm Modderfontein,
+where we celebrated Christmas. The enemy was constantly at our heels,
+and made things hot for us; we often had to hurry most inconveniently
+not to be surrounded or cut off. We got a few days' rest on the farm
+Vlakhoek. We were camped near a small stream, and went from there to the
+different farms in search of the first fruit of the season.</p>
+
+<p>On New Year's Eve General Beyers' commando moved on the wide hard
+Krugersdorp road. The bullock waggon lager had been left behind, as it
+prevented us from moving as quickly as was sometimes necessary. The
+burghers still longed to attack Krugersdorp, and on New Year's Eve, as
+we moved fast in the direction of the town, our hearts were cheered by
+the thought of Jameson's failure, when five years ago he passed along
+the same road in his notorious Raid. We all hoped to add an immortal
+page to the annals of our history on <a name="Page_124" id="Page_124" />the following New Year's Day. But
+we were sadly disappointed in our expectations. The Jameson Raid was not
+avenged, and we celebrated New Year's Day calmly and peacefully at
+Cyferbult, on Pretorius' farm, with milie-pap (maize meal porridge) and
+beef and&mdash;green fruit!</p>
+
+<p>Whenever we came to a farm we ate as much green fruit as possible by way
+of a change in our diet. On other occasions it would have been very bad
+for us, but now it seemed to have a very wholesome effect. As we moved
+on past Zwartkop over the Krokodil River in the direction of the
+railway, we realized that there was no chance of attacking Krugersdorp
+for the present, for General Beyers had apparently changed his plans. We
+were quite sure that it had originally been his intention, and some of
+our officers talked of the attack on the town as if it were an open
+secret.</p>
+
+<p>Our capable Veld-Kornet, Kruger, had remained behind at Zwartkop to get
+the burghers of Wyk III. Krugersdorp from out of their hiding-places, as
+the Generals wanted to concentrate all the small bands for some great
+undertaking. We joined Wyk I. Krugersdorp under Veld-Kornet Klaassen.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125" />Near Hekpoort, as we were camped at Dwarsvlei, we attacked a convoy of
+the enemy in the valley, and very nearly captured it before it was
+reinforced. I was not present, so cannot give any account of the battle.
+After a sharp trek of more than one night, we crossed the rails between
+Kaalfontein and Zuurfontein Stations, just before sunrise one morning
+towards the middle of January. We captured a few guards who seemed to
+know nothing of our movements. Why General Beyers did not surprise one
+or both stations that morning early is still a mystery to us, as our
+movements were remarkably quick. It could not have been because he
+thought us too tired, for some twenty minutes further on, while we were
+resting on a farm, he ordered part of our lager to turn to the left and
+attack Kaalfontein Station.</p>
+
+<p>Our corporal was unwilling to work us and our horses to death, so he
+first got breakfast ready. But when our cannon began to roar and
+Corporal Botman, who still limped from a wound, rode off without a word
+in his own peculiar way, our conscience began to trouble us, and several
+of our men followed him. My brother, <a name="Page_126" id="Page_126" />whose horse's back was chafed,
+remained in the lager with the rest of the burghers.</p>
+
+<p>When we reached our guns, we immediately saw that the station could be
+taken only at the cost of many lives&mdash;more than the success would be
+worth. Our guns had not the desired effect, and we should have had to
+charge across an open space without any cover. The enemy had no guns.
+They say our left wing very nearly succeeded in taking a small fort near
+the station, but I cannot give any particulars, for our Veld-Kornet rode
+with a small troop of burghers to the right of the station, and took
+another small fort which the enemy had abandoned because it was too far
+away from the station. What might have been expected happened. Towards
+afternoon an armoured train came from Pretoria, and reinforcements
+arrived from Johannesburg and scattered our left wing over the valley. I
+happened to be with a few others on the outmost point of the right wing
+of attack&mdash;or, rather, since the scene was changed, of the left wing of
+flight. And as we were retreating at our ease an old man galloped
+towards us and pointed out that we were retreating in the wrong
+direction, as the <a name="Page_127" id="Page_127" />enemy had captured our whole lager. He had never in
+his life seen so many khakies. They seemed to be on all sides of us. The
+only outlet for us was in the direction of Heidelberg. I asked him,
+'Uncle, are you sure that our lager is in the hands of the khakies?' to
+which he answered, 'Nephew, I saw with my own eyes how they rode up to
+the waggons and made all our people &quot;hands up!&quot;' and he continued to
+give us a minute description of the occurrence.</p>
+
+<p>If we had been greenhorns, we would have blindly followed the startled
+old man right through the stream of retreating burghers and exploding
+15-pounders. But, fortunately, the war had taught us, and we moved on
+<i>with</i> the stream, but a little more to the left, and, I cannot deny it,
+with a feeling of great anxiety as to what was to become of us if the
+old man had indeed told the truth.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately, it appeared that fright had made the old man believe his
+own imagination, and the lager was quite safe. My brother told me that
+the slight attack made upon them by the enemy was easily beaten off.</p>
+
+<p>The opinion of the majority was that we should have left Kaalfontein
+Station alone. <a name="Page_128" id="Page_128" />We were thoroughly exhausted by our rapid journeys,
+particularly by the journey of the preceding night, and besides that the
+burghers were unwilling to make an attack of which they did not see the
+advantage. We had several killed and wounded.</p>
+
+<p>The consequence was that we had to trek that night in a way that none of
+us will ever forget, to get beyond the reach of the enemy. One cannot
+imagine how terrible it is to sit for hours on horseback, dead tired and
+overcome by sleep. We did not even guide our horses; they simply jogged
+along mechanically, too tired even to object to ill-treatment. Our hands
+rested on the bows of the saddles, and as we sat leaning forwards,
+apparently lost in thought, but in reality suffering tortures from the
+effort to keep awake, we forced ourselves to look up and about us, but
+our eyes half closed in the effort, and everything about us took a
+strange shape, and the sky became chaos; with a nod we half awoke, only
+to dream again a second later that we were falling from our horses.</p>
+
+<p>Not a word was spoken, for everyone was dozing. Whenever we had to wait
+for our <a name="Page_129" id="Page_129" />guns or waggons, we simply flung ourselves on the grass with
+one arm through our bridles, and soon we were unconscious of the pulling
+and tugging of the horse, and if the order to mount woke us up, the
+tugging had ceased, and our horses were calmly grazing some distance
+from us. Then we lifted our bodies, loaded with cartridges and guns,
+into the saddle at the risk of toppling over on the other side, like a
+lizzard sliding down a bank, and rode on in silence, drowsily and
+top-heavy.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII" /><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130" />XIII</h2>
+
+<p class="center">COMMANDO SUFFERINGS</p>
+
+
+<p>The horsemen rode generally two by two, partly in front of the waggons
+as advance-guard, and behind as rear-guard, each corporal with his men
+in his place by his Veld-Kornet. The Krugersdorpers were no longer
+allowed to leave their places before they had permission from their
+corporal. Even those burghers who were most disorderly in the beginning
+now saw the necessity of discipline, and were obedient to the commands
+of their officers.</p>
+
+<p>It was a mixed crew of old and young. But the majority were still in the
+prime of life, and proof against the privations of guerilla life. The
+old men among us were all men whose powerful constitutions were yet
+unbroken. It was praiseworthy of them that in their old age they were
+willing to suffer the difficulties and <a name="Page_131" id="Page_131" />dangers of a wandering life for
+their country's sake, for although their constitutions were strong, they
+were susceptible to cold and damp, the effects of which they could not
+shake off. There were also many brave little boys, who were thus early
+initiated into the privations of commando life; but they shared all
+bravely, in a careless spirit of adventure.</p>
+
+<p>Here and there were some Uitlanders who had remained faithful to us. All
+the others had gradually disappeared, either because they were taken
+prisoners, or killed through their somewhat foolhardy courage, or
+because they had left the country in disappointment. The townspeople
+were by no means superior to the farmers. There were traitors and
+'hands-uppers' among them as well. We have been bitterly disappointed in
+people of all classes, but particularly in the so-called 'gentlemen.'</p>
+
+<p>Our condition and appearance were indeed striking. During the heat of
+the day, when the dust lay thickly about us, we sat in our ragged
+clothes, with shaggy, uncombed beards, on our poor, hardly-treated
+ponies, meekly staring in front of us, seemingly indifferent to the
+moral hurt that we were suffering and the <a name="Page_132" id="Page_132" />physical pain that we felt in
+all our limbs after a long, tiring ride. At the start of one of our
+journeys an animated conversation sometimes helped to pass the time, but
+it soon flagged, leaving us staring in front of us in the usual
+dispirited, dull way. Our talk became daily more prosaic and
+superficial. We had not the energy to express our deepest sentiments,
+and things which were formerly pleasant were strange to us now. We had
+no spur to enliven our thoughts in our monotonous life. To the careless
+there was nothing startling in this moral numbness, but the more
+sensitive among us grieved over it, and were humiliated by the
+shallowness that had come into our lives.</p>
+
+<p>The small necessaries of our material existence had become essential to
+our happiness. If we lost a knife, or if a pot or kettle broke, or a mug
+was stolen from us, we were depressed for days, as if a heavy blow had
+fallen upon us. It was not easy to fight against that bitter feeling of
+depression. Our only safety lay in the fact that we were conscious of
+the demoralizing effect of these small disappointments of commando life,
+for to know one's self is always the first step towards conversion.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133" />Some qualities of our highest nature were systematically suppressed. We
+prided ourselves on our fierce hatred of the enemy, and considered it a
+mark of patriotism, and we rejoiced when he fell beneath our bullets or
+when the plague broke out. We even wished that a great European war
+might begin, if only we might keep our country, and as a consequence of
+our righteous patriotism an inclination to cruelty became one of the
+predominant traits in the character of the burghers.</p>
+
+<p>The commando life tended to make many of us melancholy. Wherever we came
+the thought was forced upon us that our beloved country was deeply
+injured, morally and materially. We ourselves saw everywhere homes and
+fields destroyed, women and children taken away by force, and cattle
+stolen; and rumours told of the most terrible outrages committed upon
+helpless women and children. If it were not that one becomes hardened to
+all outward impressions, our commando life would have been pitiful
+indeed. So we became hardened to almost all these things, but the
+thought of the ill-treatment of those dear to us, on whose happiness our
+own happiness depends, was <a name="Page_134" id="Page_134" />constantly with us, and to that we did not
+become hardened.</p>
+
+<p>It is impossible to enter into the sufferings of the married men. Much
+was suffered in silence. Some men got messages from their wives
+imprisoned in refugee camps, bidding them surrender for the sake of
+their wives, since fighting was of no avail and the country was already
+lost. Who shall blame the man who rides away with an anxious heart to
+his wife and children, no matter what the consequences may be to
+himself? Another woman, with a different disposition and a different
+heart, sends word secretly to her husband that life in the prison camp
+is endurable, and that he must fight to the end. Then he stays, and
+proves himself worthy of the courage of his wife.</p>
+
+<p>Some men gave the impression that they were indifferent to the suffering
+of wife and child. These were the scum of our people, who in time of
+peace were not of much importance, but were necessary for our fight. But
+the majority, by far the greater majority, were men who, even in the
+most troubled times, were faithful to the comrades with whom they <a name="Page_135" id="Page_135" />began
+this struggle, the struggle for our independence.</p>
+
+<p>Whenever we came to a 'uitspanplek' (a place where there is water to be
+found for the horses), some of us had to seek hurriedly for wood to make
+the fire, others to fetch water, and others to help in various ways. It
+was a regular struggle for existence. Those who came first got the least
+disagreeable work. Wood was scarce on the Hoogeveld where we happened to
+be, and the water was muddied by the first water-carriers. When the sun
+was very warm we made a shelter with our guns and our blankets. Our
+meals were simple. They consisted of meat and 'mealie-pap' morning,
+noon, and night, often for weeks without salt. We made coffee of burnt
+grain ground in a coffee-mill. During the war we learnt to drink all
+sorts of coffee&mdash;of wheat, oats, barley, sweet potatoes, maize, and even
+of peaches. We became so accustomed to a simple mode of life that our
+wants were few indeed. Even sugar we no longer missed. And we remained
+healthy and strong.</p>
+
+<p>We lay in small groups round the fires, leaning against our saddles. Our
+moods were <a name="Page_136" id="Page_136" />brighter after our tired bodies had had the needful
+refreshment and rest. The groups were often picturesque, some of us
+lying at our ease with soiled books in hands, others grouped round the
+fire, every now and again adding wood to the flames, and others, again,
+picking mites out of the biltong with a pocket-knife.</p>
+
+<p>A shower had not much effect upon us. We were accustomed to letting our
+clothes dry on our bodies. Nature is very kind to people who are day and
+night in the open air. If the sun did not shine soon after a shower, we
+made a very deplorable appearance in our dripping clothes. But we never
+grumbled. We were generally cheerful, unless we were exhausted from
+fatigue.</p>
+
+<p>We suffered most on those long nights when, for some reason or other, we
+could not sleep, for many of the burghers were troubled with fears for
+their dear ones. Often, after a long ride, we were too tired to prepare
+a meal, but simply flung ourselves against our saddles and slept before
+we had time to let our thoughts wander. But if the enemy were not at our
+heels, we often passed the long nights <a name="Page_137" id="Page_137" />in sleeplessness, gazing up at
+the stars with the most bitter feelings in our hearts. No wonder that
+many a burgher grew gray. We were often kept awake by the tethered
+horses stumbling among the groups. Sometimes a man would jump up and
+strike at them till all the others awoke, too, and then there was great
+hilarity in the quiet of the night.</p>
+
+<p>Sometimes a constant rain cast a shadow over the sunny Hoogeveld and
+made our lives sombre and almost unbearable. Then our tattered garments
+could not dry on our bodies, and everything about us was wet and dirty.
+Even in dry weather fuel was almost unattainable, for the treeless
+Hoogeveld had been almost exhausted by the many large commandos which
+had visited the 'uitspan' places. In wet weather it was almost an
+impossibility to make a fire.</p>
+
+<p>Whoever had an ailment passed unpleasant nights then; each night meant a
+nail in his coffin. Even the constant rain the burghers bore cheerfully,
+and many a joke was passed along during an interval in the downpour. But
+in the morning, as we dragged our weary limbs out of our mud-baths,
+shivering from <a name="Page_138" id="Page_138" />cold, we did not venture to put the conventional
+question, 'Did you sleep well?' to each other.</p>
+
+<p>The spirit among the burghers was very different from what it had been.
+No swearing was heard, and quarrelling was exceptional. Thefts, too,
+were seldom committed. We called ourselves 'sifted'; traitors and
+thieves had gone over to the stronger party. I do not believe that any
+European army would have kept its moral tone so high under such
+demoralizing circumstances as did that small army of Boers with the help
+of their religion. Whereas in time of peace there was much difference in
+churches, especially in the Transvaal (although no difference in
+belief), now, during the war, the unity of belief in one Bible had
+become the means of raising the moral tone of the burghers.</p>
+
+<p>During the last few months a plague had come amongst us that we had
+heard much about, and now caused us much trouble&mdash;a plague of lice. It
+is not an edifying subject, but anyone can understand how the itching
+caused many a sleepless night. We were not to blame. When we no longer
+were able to <a name="Page_139" id="Page_139" />change our clothes, we could not guard against the vermin
+that had become a plague among the huge wandering armies of the enemy.
+Although we boiled our clothes, to our horror the nits appeared again.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV" /><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140" />XIV</h2>
+
+<p class="center">BATTLE OF BOESMANSKOP&mdash;FLIGHT OF WOMEN</p>
+
+
+<p>Fortunately, the enemy gave us a week's rest on the farm of Landdrost
+Schotte. During that time Veld-Kornet Meyer, with his small troop of
+Germans, blew up the electric factory at Brakpan.</p>
+
+<p>Then we stayed a few days on Mr. Brown's farm, where a great many little
+commandos congregated that were camped on the banks of the river. Our
+horses became quite sleek again from the abundance of mealies they got
+there. On that farm we first used for fuel the poles that fenced in the
+farm. I distinctly remember how, after we had received the order from
+Commandant Kemp, we waited until after dark before pulling up the poles,
+and how grieved we were at the necessity for doing it. Since that time
+we have got over <a name="Page_141" id="Page_141" />such scruples. Even if there were wood to be had on an
+outspan place, there was always a race to procure the best poles. Of
+course, when there was abundance of wood, the pulling up of poles was
+strictly prohibited.</p>
+
+<p>At that time I made the acquaintance of a nephew of mine, Paul Mar&eacute;, a
+boy of fourteen, with a noble countenance, who, like so many others of
+the same age, rode about with gun and bandolier, and was full of
+courage. When the enemy approached his mother's house he prepared for
+flight, but she took it for a joke. When she noticed that he was in
+earnest, she forbade him to go, as his father had been killed already,
+and he would in all probability be killed too. He merely answered,
+'Because they have shot my father, I mean to shoot them now,' and rode
+away.</p>
+
+<p>We did not like remaining long in one place doing nothing. We always
+became impatient, and wished to know when we could move on. But the
+Commandant always answered that he could not tell. And the more sensible
+of us thought, 'It depends on khaki.' This was really the case now. On
+the evening of January 28 we got the order to be in readi<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142" />ness. While
+General Beyers, with 400 or 500 men, passed to the rear of the enemy to
+destroy the Boksburg mines, our commando of horsemen moved rapidly in
+the direction of Boesmanskop in the Heidelberg district, to cut off the
+enemy who were pushing on to our part of the Hoogeveld. We arrived at
+Boesmanskop the following morning.</p>
+
+<p>The parts of the country that we now passed through had not yet been
+destroyed by the enemy, but everywhere else the houses and farms were
+burnt and ruined in the most barbarous way. We were very anxious,
+therefore, to cut off the enemy's advance. They were camped to the
+north-west of Boesmanskop. A strong Boer guard occupied this kopje&mdash;the,
+only one in the neighbourhood; for the rest, the surroundings were the
+ordinary Hoogeveld with its mounds. We pushed up in a long line over a
+'bult' that ran north-west of Boesmanskop. Our guns&mdash;only a few, as most
+had been sent away to be repaired&mdash;stood on top of this mound without
+any cover. Lieutenant Odendaal, a very brave gunner, did not like
+kopjes, but always placed his cannon on a mound, as the enemy's guns
+always fired <a name="Page_143" id="Page_143" />too short or too long on account of the misleading
+distances. They did so in this instance, and the bombs flew far beyond
+us. Corporal Botman ordered me to stay with the horses at the foot of
+the 'bult,' while the burghers crept on to the top a few hundred paces
+further, expecting eventually to charge the enemy. Suddenly I heard,
+twice over, a noise like that of a train in the distance. My brother
+told me afterwards how he had seen a detachment of the enemy storming
+Boesmanskop, and how the burghers waited until they were close by, and
+then beat them back completely with a twice-repeated salvo.</p>
+
+<p>For some time the guns of the enemy ceased firing, because, as I heard
+later on, Lieutenant Odendaal had shot down the gunners. When they made
+themselves heard again, they were more accurate in their aim; I most
+narrowly escaped the bombs. Four or five thundered around me in quick
+succession, as I fell and stooped and grasped the bridles of the rearing
+horses. Some of the horses pulled the bridles out of my hands and raced
+down the valley.</p>
+
+<p>But the left wing of the enemy was surround<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144" />ing us, and, like a swarm of
+birds that rise on the wing, the burghers fled back in among the
+tethered and the straying horses, and retreated as fast as they could.
+The enemy now bombarded Boesmanskop, so that the retreating burghers in
+the valley had a bad time of it with the bombs flying over their heads.</p>
+
+<p>Many waggons of Boer families, fleeing for their lives, were pushing
+along the sides of the long mounds, and the enemy's bombs burst in their
+midst more than once&mdash;perhaps accidentally, perhaps because they knew
+that 'the Boer nation must be swept off the face of the earth.'</p>
+
+<p>The women seemed to be in a panic. From all sides families came in carts
+and waggons&mdash;long rows of vehicles filled with poor, terror-stricken
+women and children; large herds of cattle were driven along by the
+Kaffir servants, but many of them fell into the enemy's hands. The
+burghers did their best to make a stand in order to give the waggons a
+good start, but retreated in good order when they saw no chance of
+checking the enemy's forward movement. Fortunately, a heavy shower fell
+in the afternoon and hindered the enemy in their <a name="Page_145" id="Page_145" />advance, else many a
+waggon would have fallen into their hands.</p>
+
+<p>It was no longer necessary for the burghers to resist for the sake of
+the waggons. The enemy had camped and left us, with the exception of the
+guard, to plod our way shamefacedly through the mud. Our ponies, with
+their quick, peculiar gait, soon caught up the heavily-laden waggons,
+and we supplied ourselves with mealies, flour, fowls, etc., that had
+been thrown overboard or left behind on a broken-down waggon. Such is
+the fortune of war, and the things were better in our hands than in
+those of the khakies.</p>
+
+<p>When we rode up alongside the waggons, many a meeting took place between
+relatives and friends who had been parted for months. The women and
+girls drove the horses, and many of them walked with the Kaffirs in the
+mud next to the oxen. They did the work of the men in time of peace.
+Many of them had been delicately nurtured, in spite of the simplicity of
+their lives, and were not accustomed to the hard work. They were all
+Transvaal women, and wives and daughters of the burghers who had to look
+on helplessly at their sad flight. <a name="Page_146" id="Page_146" />And, oh! the dear little heads of
+the children that peeped at us from out of the waggons! It was a cruel
+sight, and it moved us strangely.</p>
+
+<p>Although most of the women were drenched, they were all cheerful, and
+seemed proud of taking an active part in the great struggle. And if a
+young man asked a girl whether he should ride next to her to help her,
+the answer was: 'No, thank you, we can manage; the men must fight now.'
+There were many old men and boys who preferred the society of the women
+to the danger of the bombs. Some of the women were not kind, and
+reproached us for being the cause of all this misery, as our appearance
+in the Hoogeveld had brought the enemy in its train.</p>
+
+<p>The waggons were heavily laden with furniture and grain, some even with
+stoves, and they sank deep into the mud, as the roads were one mass of
+mud after the numerous waggons and thousands of cattle that had already
+passed along them. Long rows of vehicles were continually approaching
+from all sides, all going in the same direction, and when we came to
+Waterval River a sad but grand sight met our eyes. The river was full.
+<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147" />Hundreds of waggons had been outspanned on the banks on either side.
+The women and children were doing their best to light the fires with the
+wet wood, and to cook some food. It was just before sunset, but there
+was no sun to cheer them on their way.</p>
+
+<p>Against the sides of the mounds (bulten) the cattle were moving in black
+dense masses, making an almost deafening noise with their bleating and
+lowing. As we rode through the full river, we saw in mid-stream a cart
+that had stuck fast. A woman was standing in the water pushing at the
+back, while a girl held the reins. A few of our men jumped down from
+their horses and soon succeeded in getting the cart to the other side.
+But we could not stay to help the poor women and children. We rode on,
+inquiring everywhere after the trolleys and the commissariat. These were
+higher up on the other side of the river, so we had to cross once more,
+this time in the dark, at the risk of our lives.</p>
+
+<p>Two little girls were drowned that evening, and the wheel of a waggon
+had passed over a girl's body. It had been better if the women had
+stayed at home and depended on the <a name="Page_148" id="Page_148" />mercy of the enemy. They should not
+have undertaken this terrible journey. A woman cannot flee from place to
+place like a man, and life in a 'refugee'(?) camp would have been
+better; she should bear her sorrow bravely at home. And this was only
+the beginning of the misery. If they had remained at home, they might
+have saved their homes, but now the enemy was sure to destroy and burn
+the deserted farms.</p>
+
+<p>During the day, when the flight was still a novelty, the women and girls
+were cheerful enough, but who can describe their heartache and misery
+during their enforced journey on the rainy nights? I do not know how all
+those waggons and cattle got through the swollen river that night.
+Twenty paces from where I lay a waggon was being inspanned; I heard the
+voices of men and women. An old man was talking. He threatened to
+off-load all the women on the first available place, as he had never in
+his life had so much trouble. A small boy and a Kaffir had their turn
+also; the boy was on horseback and led, or rather dragged, another horse
+that refused to move. He had to collect the cattle, which seemed to me
+<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149" />almost an impossible task in the dark, among the many horses of the
+burghers. When he had found Kindermeid, Witlies had disappeared, and
+when Witlies was found, then Vaalpens was missing again. Kindermeid, a
+gray ox, was the most troublesome. Repeatedly it passed by me, followed
+by the boy dragging the unwilling horse. Then the boy exclaimed in sad,
+shrill tones, 'See how the mare jibs!' When his father angrily asked,
+'Have you found Kindermeid now?' he answered, 'Yes, father, but now
+Vaalpens is missing; the mare jibs so, I can't get the cattle together!'
+When he had found them all and the rumbling of their waggon was dying
+away in the distance, I still heard him complain of the unwilling mare,
+in his sad, shrill little voice. It was a small episode in my life that
+I shall not easily forget. This was the last I saw of the flight of the
+women, for we had to stay behind to fight as we were retreating. Later
+on I heard many sad tales about it, which I cannot repeat in this little
+book of mine.</p>
+
+<p>The poor women and children were indeed to be pitied, but we had no
+sympathy with the men who fled in the winter with their cattle to <a name="Page_150" id="Page_150" />the
+Boschveld, and now sought our protection, though they had never fought
+themselves. The flight with the cattle was necessary, as the enemy would
+otherwise have exterminated them, but many of the men took advantage of
+the necessity, and sometimes three or four strong, sturdy men went with
+one waggon, where one man would have been ample.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="XV" id="XV" /><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151" />XV</h2>
+
+<p class="center">BATTLE OF CHRISSIESMEER&mdash;REUNION WITH GENERAL BEYERS</p>
+
+
+<p>I will not describe our retreat, as nothing of importance occurred. We
+were constantly on the alert to move before the cunning French entrapped
+us within the circle that he was trying to draw around us.</p>
+
+<p>At Trichardsfontein Malherbe and I had to go in search of our horses,
+which had strayed, so we were separated from our commando for some days.
+When we found our horses we went to Ermelo, and stayed there until the
+enemy were so close upon us that General Louis Botha, who happened to be
+at Ermelo, and knew of our arrival, sent to say that we must leave the
+town. We then joined his force and rode to Spion Kop.</p>
+
+<p>'In the land of the blind the one-eyed is <a name="Page_152" id="Page_152" />king!' Even so it was with
+Spion Kop of the Hoogeveld Ermelo. During the three years of my
+University life in that distant little country that stands by us now so
+well in our need, I often climbed a hill about the size of Spion Kop.
+That hill is famed for its height throughout the whole country, and
+bears the formidable name of 'the Amersfoort Mountain.'</p>
+
+<p>While the officers were holding a council of war, Malherbe and I rode
+off to our commando. At Klipstapel we were allowed a few days' breathing
+time, and there we prepared for the night attack on Smith-Dorrien's
+camp, to the north of us. But our guide lost his way in the dark, and we
+had to return. It was decided, nevertheless, to attempt the attack the
+following night at Chrissiesmeer, where the camp was then. We had
+everything in our favour. We were a strong force of many commandos, and
+the enemy's force was not much larger.</p>
+
+<p>That evening we were placed in quite a different order from the usual
+one. The men of each corporal's division rode next to each other. The
+Commandant or Veld-Kornet at the head, followed by the corporal with his
+ten <a name="Page_153" id="Page_153" />or fifteen men riding abreast, was followed by the next corporal
+riding abreast with his men, etc. On looking back from the top of the
+hill in the moonlight, one saw a broad dark mass of fierce, determined
+men. Nearly every burgher had one or two extra horses, mostly mares with
+foals, that we had commandeered and trained during our retreat on the
+Hoogeveld. At that time every horse, trained or untrained, was put to
+use. It was a pity that the mares with their foals were not left behind,
+as they made a terrible noise with their whinnying. We walked our
+horses; we were not allowed to utter a word or to light our pipes&mdash;that
+was reasonable; but the neighing of the horses was not exactly in
+accordance with our silence. Every now and again, when the whinnying of
+the mares was at its worst, some burgher or other would give vent to an
+exclamation of impatience. Every now and again someone or other would
+light his pipe, taking care that neither the Veld-Kornet nor the enemy
+should see it. A dead silence reigned everywhere, broken only by the
+mares and their foals. These beasts caused us great uneasiness, but so
+did the order we received <a name="Page_154" id="Page_154" />that we had to shoot sharp at the beginning
+of the attack, but then slowly, until it became light, so as to save
+some of our ammunition in case of need. We had to attack in the dark
+then. But what if the enemy, prepared for our arrival, were to pepper at
+us unexpectedly from a different direction, or to point their Maxims at
+us?</p>
+
+<p>The greatest mistake of all was that we took our horses right up to the
+hill on the other side of which the khakies were. The horses were tired
+and had ceased neighing, but we should have left them some miles behind
+and walked on to make the attack as soon as it was light. An uncle of
+mine told me that he saw some men on horseback riding over the bull,
+whom he took to be our spies, but they were of course the enemy's guard.</p>
+
+<p>When we had tethered our horses at the foot of the bult, we climbed up
+slowly, but before we could fall into position the enemy opened a sharp
+fire at us. We charged shouting 'Hurrah!' in wild enthusiasm, and fired
+as fast as we could straight ahead. The sparks flew up some twenty paces
+in front of us, and even after the fight we could not tell whether they
+<a name="Page_155" id="Page_155" />came from our own guns or from those of the enemy. At intervals we
+heard the tick-tick-tick of a small Maxim, but owing to the dark we were
+not mown down. Some of the burghers threw themselves down behind us, and
+involuntarily one thought of the proverb, 'to hide in another's blood.'
+Whenever the firing slackened a few of our brave men charged, shouting
+out encouraging words, and again raised our enthusiasm. Both burghers on
+my right and on my left were wounded. The latter had a most demoralizing
+influence on the rest of the men, as he lay groaning and moaning in a
+heart-rending way. He was only slightly wounded, and eventually escaped
+on horseback. Our brave Commandant Botman went forward ten paces beyond
+the rest in his enthusiasm, and served as a target for the enemy. He was
+severely wounded, but walked back without a moan and fell down close
+behind me. I did not even know that he was wounded. I turned round to
+see if the burghers behind me would not take the initiative in the
+inevitable flight, as I was ashamed to take it upon myself. I did not
+take it at all amiss, therefore, when I saw several men looking round to
+see if the way <a name="Page_156" id="Page_156" />were clear, and darting like an arrow back to their
+horses, for all round us our men were being shot down, and we did not
+know where the enemy's camp was, nor could we tell the effect of our
+shooting in the dark. A slight fog had arisen, through which the moon
+occasionally succeeded in dimly appearing. The day had dawned; we
+reached our horses in the greatest disorder, and heightened the
+confusion by shouting inquiries to each other after friends and
+relatives. Some did not wait to find their horses, but fled on foot;
+others jumped on strange horses. Some even escaped on khaki horses that
+had strayed from the camp.</p>
+
+<p>As my brother and I galloped off, a man fell wounded close behind us,
+and the bullet struck the ground between us. The burghers rallied at a
+farm in the neighbourhood of the enemy's camp. Some of our men fled on,
+but most of them retreated with the guns to the commissariat trolleys,
+many without saddle, mackintosh or blanket, more hopelessly impoverished
+than ever, but not discouraged, for although the attack had been
+repulsed we were not defeated.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157" />In this lay our strength, that we were not disheartened by our defeats,
+but were able constantly to rally and to renew the attack. We kept on
+exhausting the enemy by slight skirmishes that are not worth relating,
+but their effect on the whole weakened him and strengthened us.</p>
+
+<p>On our side that day there were forty wounded, but only a few killed. It
+grieved us all that Commandant Botman had remained behind on the
+battle-field. He was universally liked for his bravery and for his
+simple Christianity. To our great joy, we heard later on that he had
+recovered, and had somehow succeeded in reaching Krugersdorp.
+Fortunately, the fog prevented the enemy from doing us much harm, and
+towards afternoon our cannon put a stop to their advance.</p>
+
+<p>The attack on Smith-Dorrien's camp was worthy of a better result. In
+this, as well as in the Hekpoort and Boesmanskop battles, where also we
+had no position, the burghers showed great courage and goodwill. In my
+opinion, the officers should have given up the plan of attack after we
+had missed our way the night before and been obliged to return. The
+<a name="Page_158" id="Page_158" />Kaffirs and traitors must have warned the enemy of our intention to
+attack, so that they could be in readiness for us.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy were now all round us. We heard the firing of cannon on all
+sides, but that same night we undertook a cunning backward movement, and
+when the enemy closed their cordon an hour later the bird had flown. We
+were careful to avoid a repetition of Cronje's experience.</p>
+
+<p>The burghers were very anxious about our lager. We had left it on
+Brown's farm on the Wilgeriver, when our commando advanced towards
+Boesmanskop. How the lager escaped I do not know, for we heard that the
+enemy were advancing from all sides&mdash;Standerton, Middelburg, etc. But we
+reached it in safety the very night that we slipped through the enemy's
+cordon.</p>
+
+<p>We were now safely on our way back to Rustenburg, and had to leave
+General French with his 30,000 or 40,000 men to drive along helpless
+women and children, and all the cattle he could lay hands on.
+Commandant-General Louis Botha had strictly forbidden the women to leave
+their farms after the Battle of Boes<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159" />manskop, so that the enormous woman
+lager received no new additions.</p>
+
+<p>Many of the farms were burned down, but some families had been left
+unmolested, because they said the enemy were ill at ease, owing to a
+rumour that General Beyers was going to attack them in the rear. The
+partly-burned granaries bore evidence to the great hurry the enemy were
+in. On some farms the very rooms that contained grain were set on fire.</p>
+
+<p>Our constant retreat had a most demoralizing influence. This was felt
+even in our conversation and our expressions. We called this retreating
+'kamping,'<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1" /><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> and it became one of our most common expressions in our
+daily life. For 'Let us go!' we said 'Let us kamp!' or for 'This evening
+we start!' we said 'This evening we go on the kamp!' A typical
+expression was 'kamping' for our independence, when we could no longer
+withstand the enemy. If anyone boasted of his loyalty to his country and
+people, he merely said that he had 'kamped' along with the burghers
+wherever they had 'kamped.' We used in our conversation many military
+terms; for instance, 'to change one's position' was 'to go and lie with
+your saddle <a name="Page_160" id="Page_160" />on another place.' 'I shall mauser you' meant 'I shall
+strike you.'</p>
+
+<p>At Grootpan General Beyers again joined us, after having done the enemy
+some harm at Boksburg. He addressed us and explained his reason for
+countermanding the attack on Krugersdorp. He had told the secret to a
+few of his officers, who made it public property, so that the enemy had
+heard of it and were prepared for the attack.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover, a great fault of the burghers had come to light at
+Nooitgedacht&mdash;namely, that they shirked their duty in their eagerness
+for plunder. He was afraid that if they took the town their plundering
+spirit would get the better of them and so give the enemy a chance of
+catching them or putting them to flight. Lastly he said that he was
+going to act in opposition to the orders received from the
+Commandant-General, and would send the Zoutpansbergers and Waterbergers
+home that evening, as it was impossible for them in their condition to
+undertake any military operations. He himself also was going home, but
+would return after a few weeks, as a large commando, led if possible by
+himself, was to invade Cape Colony.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161" />Kemp was made fighting General; the Rev. Mr. Kriel left with General
+Beyers; Klaassen took the place of Kemp, and Liebenberg was appointed
+Field-Cornet of our commando.</p>
+
+<p>The return to their homes of the Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers roused
+a feeling of dissatisfaction in us. Owing to the horse-sickness in those
+regions, and the home-sickness of the men themselves, we concluded that
+we were not likely to see them again. We also thought it would have been
+better to have invaded the Colony long ago, instead of aimlessly
+wandering about the Hoogeveld as we had been doing. In all probability
+our Generals put off the invasion as long as possible because many of
+the men&mdash;nearly all the Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers&mdash;were against
+it. Such were the difficulties against which our Generals had to fight.</p>
+
+<p>In private, both Kemp and Beyers acknowledged to me that a march into
+the Colony was strictly necessary. I do not mean to criticise, but only
+to give an idea of the spirit reigning among the burghers at that time.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1" /><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> 'Trappers.'</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI" /><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162" />XVI</h2>
+
+<p class="center">CAMPED NEAR TAFELKOP</p>
+
+
+<p>General Beyers' force was again split into small commandos, which it was
+the intention of our officers to join into one large force, and so make
+their way through the ranks of the enemy. But this plan was not a
+success, for the enemy were too strong for us.</p>
+
+<p>The Krugersdorp and Pretoriadorp commandos one night crossed the railway
+within sight of the khaki camp-lights at Irene Station&mdash;quite close to
+our capital, in full view of khaki's warning, 'No admittance!' We passed
+Zwartkop, crossed Dwarsvlei, and had to turn back to the right through
+Hartleyskloof, as we came across a camp of the enemy. We then entered
+the Moot district, dreaded for its terrible horse-sickness, and in the
+beginning of <a name="Page_163" id="Page_163" />March we arrived at Tafelkop, to the north-east of
+Lichtenburg, near Mabaalstad.</p>
+
+<p>Once, as I lay resting against my saddle, I heard an old Boer telling of
+the courage and hopefulness among the burghers from whom he came. They
+talked of nothing but peace. It was their belief that a European
+Sovereign on marriage may make a request which must be granted. He may
+even ask a million pounds or somebody's head, and cannot be refused. So,
+they said, Queen Wilhelmina had risen to make her speech at her wedding,
+and had requested absolute independence for the Republics. The Kings and
+Princes were against it, but could not break the old custom, and
+therefore peace would soon reign over our country. But such talk of
+'peace' was an exception, not the rule. After the terrible experience of
+the last months, we had become resigned to our fate, and did not try to
+anticipate the future. We knew that we must fight with courage and
+energy, and the rest we left in God's hands. We had ceased to be curious
+about the plans of our Generals, which were never made known to us.
+Exhausted in body and spirit, we took no account of time. It <a name="Page_164" id="Page_164" />was all
+one to us whether it were morning, noon or night; whether we had to
+march one, two, or three hours longer; whether we had to march at all,
+or to remain where we were. But we were not demoralized, not unnerved.
+An overworked horse allows himself to be caught and ill-treated afresh.
+The enemy, had only to fire at us to rouse our slumbering energy, for we
+suffered voluntarily, and were a support to each other, because of our
+firm conviction that we were giving our lives for the sake of our
+independence.</p>
+
+<p>It rained when we arrived at Tafelkop, and when we had been there a week
+it still rained. The only clothes we possessed were beginning to rot on
+our bodies. Some of the burghers had a change of clothes on the
+trolleys; others made themselves trousers of their many-coloured
+blankets, in which they cut a remarkable figure. Others, again, were in
+tatters, and had to disappear on the few occasions that any lady visited
+us. Most of the men had no mackintoshes, but always looked forward to
+the sunshine that was sure to follow a heavy shower. But if the rain
+continued, we made huts of grass, or clubbed together in the few
+<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165" />remaining tents, or if there happened to be an unburned farmhouse, we
+made for that.</p>
+
+<p>When the rain continued at Tafelkop, and our limbs became stiffened with
+the cold, some of us went to an outhouse belonging to a neighbouring
+farm to seek shelter. During the day we sat there in our wet clothes
+staring dismally out into the rain. At night we tried to warm our naked
+bodies by covering ourselves with the dirty wool that happened to be
+lying there. All the outhouses in the neighbourhood were crowded with
+armed burghers in tatters. On the eighth day, when the welcome sun made
+its appearance once more, our clothes were still dripping.</p>
+
+<p>Lately we had had fruit as a substitute for sugar; but the fruit season
+was over now, and we had to go back to meat and mealie-porridge, or
+mealie-porridge and meat.</p>
+
+<p>In the Moot our horses died in such numbers&mdash;particularly the 'unsalted'
+mares&mdash;that many of our men had to walk. On March 10 my faithful brown
+pony Steenbok died of horse-sickness. For over a year he had carried me
+through thick and thin, and I could not bear to see his suffering. A few
+weeks later we got <a name="Page_166" id="Page_166" />another lot of horses; I will not mention how, as
+the information might fall into the hands of the enemy. The people who
+still lived on their farms often told us that the few remaining fowls
+instinctively recognised khaki as an enemy, and made for the hedges and
+shrubs whenever they caught sight of him. So here, also, Nature looked
+after the survival of the species. The cows taken by the enemy also made
+their way back to their calves that khaki stupidly left behind, and so
+the little children could again have milk. Even the bees were not left
+undisturbed; but the bee is an enemy of any nasty-smelling thing, and
+therefore the dirty, perspiring khakies got many a sting, and the honey
+usually remained in the hives.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy probably thought that we were helpless in our poverty. But a
+Boer is not easily made helpless. We patched our own shoes and carried
+the lasts about with us. Horseshoes and nails we made from the tires of
+wheels and telegraph-wires. Instead of matches we used two stones. When
+the enemy have burned and destroyed all our corn-mills, we will still
+have coffee-mills, and when those are gone we will do as the Kaffirs do,
+and grind <a name="Page_167" id="Page_167" />our corn between two stones&mdash;and crushed and roasted maize is
+very good to eat.</p>
+
+<p>The old Voortrekkers wore trousers made of untanned hide. We can do the
+same if khaki does not supply us with sufficient clothes. Our wives and
+children and our exiled men we cannot get out of khaki's hands, and that
+is the greatest difficulty in our way.</p>
+
+<p>One of the greatest advantages we have over the enemy is that we are
+among friends, and can move about in small troops without having to
+depend on a base of operations, whereas they do well not to divide
+themselves in too small groups, or to venture too far from their
+base&mdash;even in large numbers.</p>
+
+<p>The services in our camp were held by the Rev. Mr. Naud&eacute;&mdash;a man who kept
+the courage and the moral sense of the burghers up to the mark with his
+meek Christian spirit. He also formed the debating club that was such a
+welcome recreation to us. We often thought that the enemy would be
+surprised if they could know of the debates we had&mdash;for instance, 'Must
+the &quot;hands-uppers&quot; be allowed to vote after the war is over?' 'Must the
+Kaffirs or natives have more rights?' 'Is intervention advisable <a name="Page_168" id="Page_168" />under
+the circumstances? etc. The men in the neighbourhood of Tafelkop were
+mostly 'hands-uppers,' so we confiscated their property, and their grain
+and cattle we took for the use of the lager, but we always left
+sufficient for the use of the women and children. The future of a farm
+on which a lager had camped for some time was dark indeed, for even the
+grain in the fields was destroyed by the demon of war. If the owner of
+the farm were not a 'hands-upper,' our officers usually succeeded in
+preventing the destruction. Sometimes the pulling up of the fencing was
+inevitable, as we were so short of fuel. The Boer women were sometimes
+forced to accept the protection of the enemy, after their farms and
+property had been destroyed by friend and enemy alike.</p>
+
+<p>The negotiation of February 7, between Kitchener and Louis Botha, was
+read out to us at Tafelkop. The burghers were unanimous in condemnation
+of Kitchener's conditions, and were fully satisfied with Botha's short,
+vigorous answer. Had we indeed fought so long and so fiercely only to
+become an English colony, and not to be allowed to carry arms unless we
+had a license? And for the Kaffirs to be <a name="Page_169" id="Page_169" />eventually allowed to vote?
+The men who were attached to their families and farms, but preferred
+losing all to becoming 'hands-uppers,' were unanimous in declaring
+Kitchener's conditions unacceptable, and all were ready to fight to the
+bitter end. We often spoke of the terrible suffering of our women and
+children in the refugee camps, and sometimes doubted whether it were not
+better for their sakes to give in. We did not know whether patriotism
+were worth the shedding of so much innocent blood. It cost us more than
+we can tell to remain firm and brave in our undertaking.</p>
+
+<p>At that time we also heard of De Wet's retreat from Cape Colony, but not
+officially. It was broken to us gently, and at first as if he had been
+successful, so that we all thought peace was to follow soon.</p>
+
+<p>How we rejoiced!</p>
+
+<p>But a few days later De Wet's official report was read out to us, and
+then our courage sank indeed. What was the good of our fighting if the
+Colony would not help us?</p>
+
+<p>The disappointment was not great enough to make us lay down our arms,
+but we knew it would be many a long day before peace was in <a name="Page_170" id="Page_170" />the land.
+How long should we still be chased from place to place? When would there
+be rest for our exhausted bodies? And how we longed for our dear ones,
+if only we should find them alive!</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CONCLUSION" id="CONCLUSION" /><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171" />CONCLUSION</h2>
+
+<p class="center">BATTLE OF STOMPIES&mdash;IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY</p>
+
+
+<p>We stayed fully three weeks at Tafelkop. I was appointed commissary of
+the Krugersdorp commando, and rode round to all the farms to procure the
+needful for our commando. As General De la Rey had been camping close by
+at Rietfontein for some time, there was not much left to commandeer,
+unless we deprived the women whose husbands were in the veld of the
+necessaries of life.</p>
+
+<p>Our lager was moved from Tafelkop to Rietpan, from whence a few hundred
+of our horsemen started with some guns and a few trolleys for Groot
+Kafferkraal, in Hartbeestfontein district. General De la Rey had come
+over to organize the expedition in person, and accompanied General Kemp.
+I went with a man <a name="Page_172" id="Page_172" />called Jooste to the neighbourhood of Lichtenberg and
+Klein Kafferkraal to commandeer cattle. There I heard many tales of the
+enemy's behaviour as they passed through a week before.</p>
+
+<p>For some reason or other the houses there had not been burnt, perhaps
+owing to the verbal negotiation between Botha and Kitchener. I know of
+only one house that was burned down there. That was the finest house in
+the neighbourhood and belonged to Willem Basson. Mrs. Basson herself
+told me how it happened. Her husband had fled with the cattle when the
+enemy came along. The soldiers asked her for money. They said such a
+fine house must contain a great deal of money, and when she refused they
+became most impertinent. The finding of a packet of dynamite in the
+coach-house afforded a fine excuse. The dynamite was used by Basson for
+the making of wells. On finding the packet they shouted 'Hurrah!' and
+rushed off with it to the camp close to the house. They came back after
+a while and stormed the house, smashing the windows with stones. Truly a
+heroic storming of a fortress held by women! They destroyed everything
+<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173" />in the house, and the women and children were obliged to flee to Mrs.
+Scheffers at Klein Kafferkraal, where I met them.</p>
+
+<p>We know of many cases of cruelty and violence, cases that have roused us
+to a passion of hatred.</p>
+
+<p>I do not believe that the cases of violence, which are not spoken of
+because of the horror, are tolerated by the military authorities, who
+are probably ignorant of them. One can understand that the worst were
+committed by isolated patrols who could give free vent to their evil
+passions. We cannot always hold the chief officers responsible for acts
+committed by individual soldiers, neither are our officers responsible
+for the unlawful acts of individuals on our side. But if the English,
+with their national pride and obstinacy, deny these acts of violence, we
+can give them sufficient proof of more cases than one.</p>
+
+<p>I was not present when the Krugersdorpers attacked Babington's force
+near Lensdenplaats, in the neighbourhood of Groot Kafferkraal. But the
+following morning, when they were retreating, I joined them with some
+cattle, and was present at the Battle of Stompies. The night before the
+battle I heard De <a name="Page_174" id="Page_174" />la Rey's order given to Kemp to march his men at four
+o'clock the following morning in the direction of the enemy. He was told
+to retreat fighting, in case the enemy attacked, so as to give our
+reinforcements an opportunity of attacking in the rear. Kemp ordered the
+lager, or, rather, the few waggons, to retire to Bodenstein's farm the
+following morning.</p>
+
+<p>While we were busy inspanning we heard the enemy's bomb-Maxim, and
+before the waggons had forded the dangerous drift of the donga near
+Bodenstein's farm the bullets flew over our heads from the bult behind
+us. The women fled into the house and the burghers retreated as fast as
+they could. The enemy had surrounded us in the night, and each burgher
+had to do his utmost to escape from out of the half-circle. The few who
+stayed behind to defend the guns were soon obliged to fly after the
+rest, and to abandon one gun still on the other side of the drift. The
+others might have been saved if the women's lager had not impeded their
+flight by obstructing the way.</p>
+
+<p>We retreated to Vetpan. Those of the burghers who retreated more to the
+right in <a name="Page_175" id="Page_175" />the direction of Stompies were the best off, as the right wing
+of the enemy had to be on its guard not to enter the wood there. The
+enemy fired at us from horseback to enhance our panic, which was clever
+of them, as it was impossible for us to turn in any direction. My horse
+was overworked, and had changed its pace into a heavy gallop, a sure
+sign that it would not last much longer. When I looked round, I saw a
+few khakies riding on ahead, making our burghers 'hands-up.'
+Fortunately, someone released a spare horse; I mounted it without a
+saddle and made good my escape, but was incapable of riding for several
+days after.</p>
+
+<p>Our men made no attempt to check the enemy's progress. They all fled,
+each one bent on saving himself. A Boer, if once he flies, is not easily
+turned aside. But it must be remembered that our horses were terribly
+overworked. They had to live on nothing but grass, and very little of
+that. We all also recognised the impossibility of checking the enemy, as
+we ran the risk of shooting our own men and women; so our only chance
+lay in flight.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176" />The horses of the enemy were soon 'done up,' and they had to satisfy
+themselves with our guns&mdash;two large ones that we had taken from them at
+Colenso, a damaged bomb-Maxim and several smaller ones. They took 136
+prisoners, among whom were Lieutenant Odendaal, 32 artillerists, 13
+burghers, and for the rest women and children and some big, full-grown
+cowardly men who were in the habit of fleeing with the women and
+children. The greater part of the women's lager fell into their hands.
+The few waggons of Generals Smuts and Kemp that they captured were of no
+importance. Jooste and Malherbe were also taken prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>I rode with General De la Rey to Tafelkop, where our lager was
+stationed. In a week's time I was back again at Stompies. I had been
+there scarcely an hour, when the tidings came that the enemy were camped
+on Willem Basson's farm. The following morning before daybreak I was on
+my way to Rietfontein. There, too, I had been only about an hour, when
+another column came down upon me from the direction of Ventersdorp. I
+fled to Tivee Buffelgeschiet with two boiled mealies and <a name="Page_177" id="Page_177" />a piece of
+meat in my hands. Before I reached that farm, half an hour's ride, my
+horse was done up. I crept behind an ant-hill and prepared to defend
+myself against four scouts who seemed to be coming straight towards me.
+Suddenly, however, they turned off in the direction of their main-guard,
+because, as I afterwards heard, they were threatened by eight of our
+scouts.</p>
+
+<p>But the khakies were nearing me, and I was obliged to lead my horse into
+a mealie-veld and to lie down full length in the rain. They did not
+appear, however, and I concluded that they had camped at Rietfontein, so
+I walked my horse to the farm of Mrs. Jansen, one of the few hospitable
+women in that sparsely inhabited country. She hastily informed me that
+the khakies had been there.</p>
+
+<p>The eight burghers soon returned, among them a young man who was nursing
+a wounded man on the farm. In the night we went into the veld with a
+small brother of his, who rode a mule, and returned in the morning to
+watch the enemy's movements from the roof of the house. My horse was so
+ill with horse-sickness that it shook under me. The enemy suddenly
+<a name="Page_178" id="Page_178" />appeared on the long bult (hill) along which I had come the day before.
+I carried my saddle into the house and fled into the veld. From behind
+an ant-hill I watched the enemy shooting my poor sick horse. They passed
+by me several times, but at last I was discovered, and had to give up my
+beloved Mauser without a chance of defending myself. My two companions
+escaped. This happened on April 3, 1901.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately, I fell into the hands of decent khakies who did not insist
+on examining my old veld-shoes that I was using as a money-box, so I was
+able to keep my precious four pounds. They took from me only a few
+trifles by way of curiosities, and said I was sure to be robbed of them
+sooner or later by the soldiers in the camp. I was told that I could
+congratulate myself that I was made prisoner, as many columns were
+coming down upon us from all directions, so that we would be obliged to
+surrender that very day. I answered that the war had given sufficient
+proof that their expectations were not always realized.</p>
+
+<p>When the officers of the guard were told that I was taken under arms, a
+curt order was <a name="Page_179" id="Page_179" />given to 'Let him walk.' When I protested and pointed
+out that I was a prisoner of war and not a criminal, I was treated with
+consideration as an ordinary soldier. I was taken by Babington's force.</p>
+
+<p>The following day the waggon lager arrived at Tafelkop, and the cavalry
+that had been sent on to capture our lager joined the camp <i>minus</i> any
+prisoners. When the enemy's lager arrived at Potchefstroom a week later,
+it brought along seventeen or eighteen 'hands-uppers,' one ambulance
+doctor, several families, and one prisoner of war. Six of the
+'hands-uppers' told me that the whole month we were camped at Tafelkop
+they had hidden from us in their bedrooms so as not to be obliged to
+break their oath of neutrality.</p>
+
+<p>I came across an old acquaintance of mine in the lager&mdash;Phister, who had
+served under Commandant Boshoff. I knew that he had been wounded in the
+leg at the Battle of Stompies and taken by our men to Rietpan. On the
+trek from Ventersdorp to Potchefstroom I discovered him lying on his
+back in the blazing sun on an open trolley, near to Potchefstroom; he
+shouted to me that he had had <a name="Page_180" id="Page_180" />nothing to eat during the whole of the
+eighteen hours' trek.</p>
+
+<p>In Potchefstroom our trolley, with the twelve 'hands-uppers,' the
+ambulance doctor, and myself, was sent in the direction of the prison.
+People came towards us from all directions. Some women called out to us:
+'Why were you so stupid as to let yourselves be caught?' Others
+inquired, weeping, after husbands and sons.</p>
+
+<p>When we got to the prison I alone was detained, and had the disagreeable
+experience of being locked up. The ambulance doctor was dismissed, as he
+was 'Not guilty'; and the 'hands-uppers' were taken to the refugee camp.</p>
+
+<p>The treatment that the prisoners of war receive varies, and depends very
+much on the prisoners themselves and on the men into whose hands they
+fall. I was allowed to see my mother and sister, who obtained a pass to
+come from Pretoria to see me. But I have seen the guards roughly send
+away weeping women who were begging to be allowed a few words only with
+their dear ones.</p>
+
+<p><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181" />At Elandsfontein Station the Transvaal colours worn by some of the
+prisoners of war were taken away by force. On the long journey to
+Ladysmith we were packed like herrings in open trucks, with insufficient
+covering for the cold nights.</p>
+
+<p>The Ladysmith camp contained chiefly burghers who had been 'tamed' by
+the enemy, and were ready to take the oath of allegiance. They were well
+treated.</p>
+
+<p>On April 3 I was taken prisoner, and on May 6 I was on board the
+<i>Manila</i>, together with 490 other prisoners of war, on our way to India.</p>
+
+<p>The burghers, accustomed to a free, independent life, suffered horribly
+from want of space and insufficient and bad food. They could not get
+over the idea of having to appear twice daily for the roll-call,
+although there was no escape possible. But their sense of humour did not
+suffer.</p>
+
+<p>Our burghers acknowledge that travelling is an education in itself, but
+they one and all prefer travelling as free men&mdash;first or second
+class&mdash;and they even prefer the high walls and <a name="Page_182" id="Page_182" />limited space of the
+fortress to being a prisoner-of-war passenger on board the steamer.</p>
+
+<p>The long, galvanized-iron bungalows in which we live here have zinc
+roofs to guard against the heat of the tropical sun, but at any rate the
+wind can blow through the openings on either side. The burghers are kept
+alive and in pretty good health by an extremely temperate manner of
+life. Once a week they are taken by a strong guard for a walk an hour
+beyond the fort. They never get out on parole. As far as we are
+concerned, they might even take cannon along with them to guard us, if
+only they would take us out oftener.</p>
+
+<p>Here, too, the moral tone of the burghers is kept up by religious
+services, and by the great devotion of the Rev. Mr. Viljoen, clergyman
+of Reitz, in the Orange Free State, who is a fellow-prisoner of ours.
+The gaiety is kept up by sports and by the companionship of many
+children. The sorrow is enhanced by the presence of many gray-headed old
+men and by sad and heart-breaking tidings. 'Guard, is there any news
+this morning?'</p>
+
+<p>We are grieving with the grief of the exile, <a name="Page_183" id="Page_183" />but we are waiting
+patiently, and hoping still that a dove will bring us a branch with our
+colours&mdash;Orange, green, red, white and blue: peace and independence.</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON COMMANDO***</p>
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, On Commando, by Dietlof Van Warmelo
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: On Commando
+
+Author: Dietlof Van Warmelo
+
+Release Date: February 24, 2005  [eBook #15160]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON COMMANDO***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Garrett Alley, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+ON COMMANDO
+
+by
+
+DIETLOF VAN WARMELO
+
+With a Portrait
+
+Methuen & Co.
+36 Essex Street W.C.
+London
+Colonial Library
+
+1902
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: DIETLOF VAN WARMELO]
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+This book was written in 1901, while its author was a prisoner at
+Ahmednagar. It was written in Dutch, and has been put into English by a
+young lady from what was the Orange Free State.
+
+The author is a friend and relation of mine, son of a clergyman in the
+Transvaal, and of old Afrikander stock on both sides. His book is the
+more valuable because of the absence of all literary pretensions, and it
+may be taken as truly representative of the Afrikander spirit, which has
+been so much misconceived in England.
+
+FREDERIK VAN EEDEN
+
+WALDEN, N. HOLLAND,
+_July_, 1902
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER
+
+FOREWORD
+
+      I. AT THE BOUNDARY--ENTRANCE INTO NATAL--DUNDEE--LADYSMITH
+
+     II. SIEGE OF LADYSMITH--BATTLE OF THE ROOIRANDJES--BLOWING
+         UP OF THE CANNON
+
+    III. THE EIGHT-DAY BATTLE OF THE TUGELA--TALK OF
+         INTERVENTION--RELIEF OF LADYSMITH
+
+     IV. DEWETSDRIFT--RETURN TO, AND FLIGHT FROM, PRETORIA
+
+      V. TREK FROM MIDDELBURG TO RUSTENBURG--BATTLE OF SELIKATSNEK
+
+     VI. GUERILLA LIFE ON THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS--NARROW ESCAPE
+         OF PRESIDENT STEYN AND GENERAL DE WET
+
+    VII. WITH PRESIDENT STEYN TO PRESIDENT KRUGER
+
+   VIII. WITH PRESIDENT STEYN IN THE BOSCHVELD--LOST
+
+     IX. PRACTICAL HINTS--ADVENTURE ON THE SABIE--NORTH OF LYDENBURG
+
+      X. FROM ROOSSENEKAL TO PIETERSBURG--WITH GENERAL BEYERS
+         TO THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS
+
+     XI. BATTLE OF NOOITGEDACHT
+
+    XII. PAARDEKRAAL DAY--BATTLE IN THE MOAT--ATTACK ON KAALFONTEIN
+         STATION
+
+   XIII. COMMANDO SUFFERINGS
+
+    XIV. BATTLE OF BOESMANSKOP--FLIGHT OF WOMEN
+
+     XV. BATTLE OF CHRISSIESMEER--REUNION WITH GENERAL BEYERS
+
+    XVI. CAMPED NEAR TAFELKOP
+
+CONCLUSION: BATTLE OF STOMPIES--IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY
+
+
+
+
+MY LIFE ON COMMANDO
+
+FOREWORD
+
+
+Could I have known that the war would last so long, I might from the
+beginning have taken notes. They would have brought back memories in a
+way pleasant to me now, and perhaps also to those who have asked me to
+write down my adventures.
+
+Often it occurred to me to keep a diary, but I was obliged to give up
+the idea because my clothes were sometimes so thoroughly drenched that
+the letters in my pocket were not readable. Later on, when clothes were
+scarce and pockets past mending, I often made the unpleasant discovery
+that caused the fool, on his journey from the land of Kokanje, to cry to
+the King: 'We have ridden at such a breakneck pace, see, everything has
+slipped through this little hole!' Now I am obliged to write down my
+adventures without any notes, so dates, numbers, and names of places
+will occasionally be missing. It stands to reason that I--being an exile
+in a strange country, in the fort of ... in ..., cut off from the world
+outside and without any official reports--should simply limit myself to
+my own personal experience. And, lastly, I must apologize to my readers
+for so often speaking of myself and my friends; but that is inevitable
+in this tale.
+
+I shall pass rapidly over the first part of my life on commando. If my
+memory plays me false--which is not very probable, as I still have a
+lively recollection of the events--I shall be grateful for correction.
+
+_July_, 1901.
+
+
+
+
+I
+
+AT THE BOUNDARY--ENTRANCE INTO NATAL--DUNDEE--LADYSMITH
+
+
+When that part of the Pretoria town commando to which my brother Frits
+and I belonged left for the Natal boundary on September 30, 1899, we
+were all very enthusiastic, as could be seen from the nice new suits,
+the new shining guns, and the sleek horses. Many ladies had come to the
+station to see us off, and we were proud of having the opportunity to
+fight for our country. Our departure seemed then to us a great occasion,
+we were inexperienced in war. We had not yet learnt that one could pass
+unscathed through many a fierce battle. We knew nothing of 'retreating'
+and we knew all about the enemy with whom we were to come in contact. We
+imagined that several sharp engagements would take place--that these
+would be decisive battles in which many of our men would be killed, and
+therefore the parting with relatives and friends was sad indeed.
+
+Our Field-Cornet, Melt Marais, had told us that we had nothing to see to
+except provisions for a day or two, as Government would supply us with
+all necessaries at Zandspruit, where the commandos were to concentrate;
+so many of us took neither pots, pans, nor mugs.
+
+What a disillusion it was to find on our arrival at Zandspruit that
+there were no tents, and as yet no provisions of any kind! So we were
+initiated by having to pass the first nights of our commando life on the
+open veld with insufficient food. And in the daytime our work was cut
+out for us, as every other minute our horses disappeared--lost among the
+thousands of horses that all looked exactly alike in the eyes of an
+inexperienced townsman. Then it meant a running and seeking, an
+examining of marks and tokens, until the stupid among us were obliged to
+tie ribbons to our horses as a means of recognising them. And one, the
+story goes, even tied a nosebag, with a bundle of forage, to his mount
+so that it should not run away.
+
+At length the provisions began to arrive, but the pots and pans were
+still scarce and we could not even drink a cup of coffee till a tin of
+jam or meat had been emptied.
+
+We were just beginning to feel comfortable, when the time stated in the
+ultimatum expired, and we had to cross the boundary of Natal. General
+Erasmus was at the head of our commando. We spent the night near
+Volksrust in a cold hail storm and rain. Those first days we are not
+likely to forget. They were wet, cold days, and we were still
+unaccustomed to preparing our own food and looking after ourselves.
+Fortunately, we had the opportunity, a few days later, of supplying
+ourselves with all necessaries at Newcastle.
+
+Before we crossed the boundary General Erasmus had addressed us and told
+us the news of our first victory--the taking of an armoured train at
+Kraaipan; at that time we still made a fuss about such a trifle. Also,
+in those days, we still looked up with respect to our leaders.
+
+Ds. Postma, who accompanied us everywhere, led us in prayer. Not one of
+the burghers seems to have known where the enemy were. We advanced
+slowly and carefully, as we expected _to meet with the enemy at any
+moment_; but we saw no signs of them until we came to Dundee. After a
+rest of a few days we undertook the momentous expedition to the
+mountains of Dundee, to the north of the town.
+
+Towards evening we got the order to 'prepare for three days.' For three
+days! And we had not even provisions enough for one. But we understood
+that there could not yet be a proper commissariat, and we fought for our
+country willingly, convinced of the justice of our cause; so we
+'prepared' cheerfully.
+
+Before the commando started, a terrible thunderstorm came on that slowly
+passed over and was followed by a gentle rain. We rode hard in the dark,
+through dongas, past farms and houses, zigzagging in a half-circle, to
+the mountains of Dundee. No sound was to be heard except the dull thud
+of the hoofs of the galloping horses. Now and again we whispered to each
+other how delightfully we were going to surprise the enemy. When the
+horses came to a sudden pause, and an inexperienced rider, owing to a
+presentiment of evil, involuntarily uttered his wish to 'halt,' we
+turned upon him angrily and called him 'traitor.' We did not then know
+that we were far beyond earshot of the enemy. It stopped raining, and
+towards morning we reached the mountains; and after we had with great
+difficulty got our horses on to the mountains, we had to await the dawn
+in the cold, drenched to the skin. A mackintosh is of small service in
+such a rain. When the day dawned we led our horses higher up. A thick
+fog had come on. General Lucas Meyer was to begin the attack on the
+west, and we were to surprise the enemy from the heights.
+
+When the roar of cannon announced the battle, we were full of
+enthusiasm, but General Erasmus forbade anyone to move on before the fog
+lifted. It was quite possible that the fog might be only on the
+mountain-tops, because of their great height, and that we would have
+clear weather as soon as we began to descend, therefore several of our
+men begged General Erasmus to be allowed to go on ahead as scouts. But
+he was very much against it, and said that the enemy might cut off our
+retreat, and 'if the enemy surround us it is all up with us,' said he.
+As soon as the roar of the cannon ceased, we withdrew some distance into
+the mountains to let our horses graze. But we had only just off-saddled,
+when from all sides came the cry of 'Saddle! saddle!' and from our left,
+in the valley, came the sound of firing. A detachment of 250 khakies,
+probably knowing nothing of our whereabouts, and intending to pass round
+the mountains and attack Lucas Meyer in the rear, was compelled to
+surrender in a few moments, after first having sought cover in a kraal
+near a house.
+
+We remained three days on the Dundee mountains, and during all that time
+there was a steady drizzle, with intervals of hail and wind. Once when
+it cleared up for a few hours we got the order to attack the town, but
+it began to rain again, and that night we had to keep our positions in
+the intense cold, without any covering. Fortunately, the enemy abandoned
+their camp that night, and when we looked down upon the town next
+morning the khakies had vanished. We had only the preceding day placed
+our cannon in a position to command the camp.
+
+When we returned to our saddles, the horses had strayed so far that it
+took us almost all day to get them back. My uncle, Paul Mare, formerly
+Volksraad member for Zoutpansberg, treated us to kaboe-mealies (roasted
+maize), the first we had on commando, and we ate with great relish.
+
+Meanwhile the commando had left. We followed, and entered Dundee, where
+we helped ourselves hungrily to the good things from the shops placed at
+the disposal of the commandos.
+
+In an unorganized army looting is a necessary evil. There are always
+some of the lower classes who are the ringleaders, and when the
+commandos reach a house or farm that has already been looted, they join
+in the looting 'because the burghers are on commando, and they must be
+well supplied with all necessaries, so as to be able to fight well.' So
+we reasoned, and we joined in the looting. I can affirm, to the honour
+of our burghers, that it was not our intention to plunder, and in the
+beginning much was done to prevent it. The lower class Uitlander, who
+joined us for the sake of booty, and not for love and sympathy towards
+us, was largely responsible for the bad name we got among right-minded
+people who did not know the facts of the case. It was the same as
+regards theft. If anyone missed his horse, he had but to look for it
+among the 'Irish corps,' or some other Uitlander corps, and unless he
+knew his beast well he would fail to recognise it, as both mane and tail
+would have been cut short by the thief. I do not wish to pretend that
+_we_ were always free from blame. It has happened that the Uitlander got
+a very poor horse in exchange for his thoroughbred because a Boer had
+tied the token of recognition to his own horse and made off with the
+better one. The truth is that very few men are proof against the
+demoralizing influence of war, and I will not deny that this war has
+shown up our many faults; but in my tale I shall be able to take up the
+cudgels for my people in cases where the rest of the world turned from
+us because they were disappointed in their expectations of us.
+
+After our departure from Dundee the looting went on freely. Then we
+began to witness the devastation that is the irremediable consequence of
+war. Here and there a house had been completely plundered. At Glencoe
+Junction I entered the stationmaster's house, a well-furnished house
+with beautiful pictures, books, and mirrors. Some massive silver mugs
+and other articles of value were lying about. The family had only just
+dined, for the cloth was still laid. I ate of the food on the table,
+wrote a letter home with pen and ink, and left the house. Later on, when
+I returned, it had been thoroughly looted and some of the mirrors
+smashed. There were many of the riff-raff, Kaffirs and coolies in the
+neighbourhood, and in all probability they had done the mischief.
+
+When our commando left Dundee to move in the direction of Ladysmith,
+part of the Pretoria town commando was sent to reinforce Lucas Meyer,
+who was to follow the troops fleeing from Dundee with his commando. My
+brother and I went with it. A terrible thunderstorm came on just then,
+and during the whole march to Ladysmith it rained heavily. Every moment
+we expected to come up with the troops, but they had too great a start,
+and we did not overtake them at all. We were too late again. An English
+General has said that 'the Boers are brave, and make good plans, but are
+always twenty-four hours late.' That can be explained in this way. We
+were accustomed to fighting against Kaffirs, who hid in woods and
+mountains, and against whom we had to advance with the utmost
+precaution, so as to lose as few lives as possible. So we were too
+cautious in the beginning of the war. We would not make a great
+sacrifice to win a battle.
+
+On October 30 we were present, under Lucas Meyer, at the battle near
+Ladysmith, but we did not come into action, as we belonged to a part of
+the commando that had to hold a position to prevent attack in the rear.
+The enemy did not attack our position at all, except with a few bombs,
+because they suffered a great defeat near Modderspruit, and had to
+retreat hurriedly. From our positions we could see how every time the
+bombs burst among them the fleeing troops seemed to get 'mazed' for a
+moment, and then went forward again.
+
+At that time we were often in want of food. One must have suffered
+hunger to know what it means. In a few linen bags I had some biscuits
+that had first been reduced to crumbs through the riding, and then to a
+kind of pap by the rain and perspiration of the horse. Often when I
+felt the pangs of famine I added some sugar to this mess and ate it with
+relish.
+
+Some days later we left Lucas Meyer and returned to our commando, which
+had meanwhile gone to the north of Ladysmith. During our absence
+Zeederberg had taken the place of Melt Marais as Veld-Cornet.
+
+
+
+
+II
+
+SIEGE OF LADYSMITH--BATTLE OF THE ROOIRANDJES--BLOWING UP OF THE CANNON
+
+
+When we surrounded the town and the siege began, all talk of the bananas
+that we were to eat in the south of Natal came to an end.
+
+Ladysmith ought never to have been besieged. On October 30 we should
+have made use of our advantage. If we had at once followed the enemy
+when they fled in disorder, we should in all probability easily have
+taken those positions that would have involved the immediate surrender
+of Ladysmith. Many lives would have been sacrificed, but not so many as
+were sacrificed during the whole siege. And we might have used those men
+who were necessary to maintain the siege elsewhere as an attacking
+force. Instead of following up our advantage, we deliberately prepared
+for a siege. The enemy meanwhile made use of the opportunity to entrench
+themselves well. Most of our burghers were against our attempting to
+take the town by assault when once it was thoroughly entrenched.
+
+The Pretoria town commando and that from Krokodil River in the Pretoria
+district occupied the position nearest to Ladysmith. This was a hill to
+the north of the town, flat at the top, and surrounded by a stone wall.
+In all probability the enclosed depression of about 500 paces in circuit
+had been used as a cattle-kraal. Against that kopje (hill) we gradually
+put up our tents. From our camp we looked on to a large flat mountain
+that we called Little Amajuba, because on October 30 the first large
+capture of prisoners had been made there. In front of our kopje, near
+the foot, ran a donga, and at a distance of about 1,000 paces, parallel
+to us, lay another oblong kopje occupied by the enemy. This kopje we
+called Rooirandjes.
+
+On November 8 we received the order from our General to attack the
+Rooirandjes the following day. We were about 250 strong, and very
+willing, as that position had not yet been entrenched. On a mountain to
+our right a cannon had been placed that was to begin firing on the
+enemy's position towards dawn. Distinct orders were given that our
+Veld-Cornet was to be at the foot of Rooirandjes with his men before
+daybreak. But something went wrong again, and it was already quite light
+when we reached the donga. We found ourselves at a distance of about 700
+paces from the Rooirandjes, and we had to cross an open space if we
+still wished to storm the position. The enemy's watch already began
+shooting at us.
+
+The corporals let their men advance in groups of four from the donga to
+the kopje, using the ant-hills as cover when they lay down. Our turn
+came last, but meanwhile the enemy had received reinforcements, and the
+nearest ant-hills were nearly all occupied, so that only three men could
+go at a time. Such a shower of bullets fell that it was a miracle that
+we came out of it alive. Fortunately I found a free ant-hill. My brother
+had to share one with a comrade.
+
+At last the cannon from the mountain fired a few shots, but stopped
+again almost immediately--why, I do not yet know. So we were obliged to
+lie in our positions. It was terribly hot, and not a cloud in the sky.
+We suffered horribly from thirst, and scarcely dared move to get at our
+water-bags. One of our comrades lay groaning behind me. He was shot
+through both legs. The bullets kept flying over our heads to the kopje
+behind us, where some of our burghers lay firing at the enemy. Every now
+and again a bullet exploded in our neighbourhood with the noise of a
+pistol-shot. I fancy only Dum-Dums make that peculiar noise. We had
+already seen many such bullets taken from the enemy by our burghers in
+the Battle of Modderspruit. Another burgher, Mulder, ran past me with a
+smile on his lips, threw himself behind an ant-hill, immediately rose
+again with the intention of joining some of our burghers in the front
+ranks, who sat calmly smoking behind some rocks under a tree, but had
+not gone two paces when he was shot in the thigh. There he had to lie
+groaning until our brave Reineke, who was killed later on at Spion Kop,
+saw a chance of carrying him away.
+
+Some of us fell asleep from fatigue. One of our men on waking heard the
+hiss of a bullet over his head at regular intervals, and thought that a
+khaki had got closer up to him, and was firing at him from the side.
+When he lifted his head he found that he had rolled away from all cover.
+One, two, three, back he was again behind his ant-hill, and the
+scoundrel stopped firing at him. It was lucky for us that the enemy were
+such bad shots, or not many of us would have lived to tell the tale.
+
+When our cannon at last, towards evening, condescended to bombard the
+enemy, the firing almost wholly ceased, and we made use of that
+favourable opportunity to get back to the donga. We had lain nine hours
+behind those ant-hills, and, strange to say, there were only two wounded
+on our side. We decided not to run the same risk again. In this way we
+lost our confidence in men like the brothers Erasmus, General and
+Commandant, who, in the first place, were incapable of organizing a good
+plan of attack, and, secondly, never took part in a battle.
+
+The months spent near Ladysmith were to most of us the most tedious of
+the whole war. We had so little to do, and the heat between the glowing
+rocks of the kopjes was awful. The little work we had was anything but
+pleasant; it consisted chiefly in keeping guard either by day or by
+night. In the beginning a very bad watch was kept. Later on we had to
+climb the kopje at least every alternate evening to pass the long nights
+in our positions, while not far behind us stood our empty tents.
+
+When we got back in the morning with our bundles on our backs, dead
+tired, we simply 'flopped' on to a stone, and sat waiting for our cup of
+coffee, either gazing at the lovely landscape or at the dirty camp,
+according to the mood we were in, or exchanging loud jokes with our
+neighbours. Constantly being on guard and constantly being in danger
+wears one out. We much prefer active service on patrol or in a skirmish
+to lying in our positions. It is not in the nature of the Boer to lie
+inactive far from his home. He soon wants to go 'huis-toe' (home), and
+very soon the 'leave-plague' broke out in our camp. That plague was one
+of the causes why the enemy succeeded in breaking through our lines.
+
+Through unfairness on the part of the officers, some burghers often got
+leave, others never, and the consequence, of course, was a constant
+quarrelling. Many burghers got leave and never returned--either with or
+without the knowledge of the officers. No wonder we never had a proper
+fighting force in the field.
+
+The difficulties we had to contend with through want of organization
+prevented the Generals from putting their plans into execution.
+
+Fortunately, many burghers were very willing, and if there was to be a
+fight they always went voluntarily. It was noticeable that those under a
+capable General fought well, while those under a bad or incapable
+General were very weak indeed. Sometimes wonders were done at the
+initiative of some of the burghers. We had a few games in the camp to
+pass the time, but we were kept busy in a different way also. Sometimes,
+when we were all just comfortably lazy, the order would be given to
+'mount.' That meant a hurried search for our horses and snatching up our
+guns and bandoliers. But after a while we had had enough of those false
+alarms, and they failed to make any impression on us. The call of 'The
+English are coming! saddle, saddle!' became proverbial.
+
+When we did not keep such constant guard, we sat or lay listening of an
+evening to a most discordant noise caused by the singing of psalms and
+hymns at the same time at different farms. We sometimes joined in. As a
+people we are not very musical.
+
+The day-watch we liked best. Then we often got a chance of firing a shot
+at a careless khaki on the Rooirandjes. To some of our young men there
+was something very exciting in the idea that they were in constant
+danger. Every now and again a bomb, too, would come flying over the
+camp, and the whole commando would make for the rocks amid shouts of
+laughter.
+
+At that time we still felt rather down when there was a fight in
+prospect. When, some time after our attack on the Rooirandjes, we went
+to the west of Ladysmith to attack Platrand, we did not feel at all
+comfortable, although we went voluntarily. It was a lovely ride in the
+dark at a flying gallop, but when we found on our arrival at Platrand
+that the promised number of men was not there, we rode away again quite
+satisfied that we had not to attempt the attack. For had we not made up
+our minds not to risk a repetition of the attack on Rooirandjes?
+
+The blowing-up of the cannon at Ladysmith is one of the episodes of the
+war that we look back upon with a feeling of shame. A few days after a
+Long Tom had been blown up on Umbulwana Kop, east of Ladysmith, I warned
+our Field-Cornet that the enemy were busy spying in our neighbourhood at
+night. While on guard, we could distinctly hear the flapping of the
+saddles and the neighing of the horses in front of us. I foretold a
+repetition of what had happened on Umbulwana Kop. The Field-Cornet
+promised that the guard would be doubled that night. Towards morning
+those of us who were not on guard were waked out of our sleep by a loud
+cry of 'Hurrah!' from the throats of a few hundred Englishmen who were
+blowing up two cannon on a mountain to our right, close to us. We sprang
+towards our positions, stumbling and falling over stones, not knowing
+what was going on, and expecting the khakies at any moment. It was the
+first time that we had heard a fight at night, and it gave us a creepy
+feeling. We saw the flames of the guns and from the exploding bullets,
+and heard the rattling of the shots and the shouting, but we could not
+join in the fight, as we--eight of us--were not allowed to leave our
+positions. Now and again a bullet fell in our neighbourhood, and the
+Free State Artillery, who were on the mountains to the right, fired some
+bombs at the enemy, nearly hitting us in the dark.
+
+When it got lighter we went to look at the dead and wounded, perhaps
+from a feeling of bravado, perhaps to accustom ourselves to the sight.
+The enemy had paid dearly for their brave deed. They know the number of
+their dead and wounded better than we do, for they had opportunity
+enough to carry them away. On our side only four were killed and a few
+wounded. Niemeyer, Van Zyl and Villiers were among the killed. Pott was
+severely wounded. Niemeyer had several bayonet wounds.
+
+After that we were, of course, doubly careful. We have never been able
+to discover who failed in their duty on guard. Cooper and Tossel were
+suspected and accused. They were sent to Pretoria under arrest, but the
+investigation never led to any result. We have every reason to believe
+that our burghers were guilty of treachery more than once near
+Ladysmith. Government ought from the start to have taken strict measures
+against traitors and spies.
+
+Some days after the blowing up of the cannon I sprained my left knee,
+which I had already hurt before the war began. General Erasmus gave me
+leave to go home for an unlimited time. On my way home I passed my
+brother Willem without being aware of it. He had come from Holland,
+where he was studying, to take part in the war.
+
+What a meeting with relatives and friends! How much there was to tell!
+Even then we had not experienced very much, and how much more will our
+burghers have to tell their dear ones on returning from their exile in
+strange countries! There will, alas! be much sorrow, too; for many of
+our friends and relatives have been killed in this war, and many more
+will have yet to give their lives for their country!
+
+
+
+
+III
+
+THE EIGHT-DAY BATTLE OF THE TUGELA--TALK OF INTERVENTION--RELIEF OF
+LADYSMITH
+
+
+Before my knee was quite cured I returned to Ladysmith. The first thing
+that caught my eye on my return to the camp was the balloon above
+Ladysmith. It looked just like a large crocodile-eye as it followed all
+my movements. When I went to look for my horse or to fetch water or
+wood, there it stood, high up in the sky, and I felt as if it kept its
+eye specially fixed on me, and as if I might expect a bomb at any
+moment.
+
+We had never in all our lives seen so many flies as at Ladysmith. We had
+to hurry over our meals as they made eating almost an impossibility to
+us. Fortunately, I was only a short time there, as towards the end of
+January, 1900, part of our commando, including my brother and myself,
+was sent to the Tugela as reinforcement. We had a distance of four and a
+half hours to ride, and we had to ride hard, as the enemy were
+determined to force their way through. We arrived the same day, just two
+days after the enemy had tried to force their way through to the right
+of Spion Kop and had been defeated. On nearing the high Tugela mountains
+we heard more and more distinctly the constant rattling of bullets,
+interrupted by the roar of the cannon and the bom-bom-bom of our saucy
+bomb-Maxim, that made our hearts expand and those of the enemy shrink.
+As we raced on to the foot of the mountains, the bullets that the enemy
+were sending over the mountains to find the Boers raised the dust around
+us.
+
+The following morning we went to lie in a trench that had been dug by
+our men on a rise to the right of Spion Kop. The previous day eight
+burghers had been wounded there. Red Danie Opperman was Field-Cornet.
+Not far from us, to our left, stood a few of our cannon, and facing us,
+to our left, on the long mountain slope, we could see fourteen guns of
+the enemy's. In front of us was a large wood, and close to that the
+English camp. We could see the enemy moving in great close square
+masses. It was a terribly hot day; we had to lie in the trenches, as all
+day long the enemy fired at us from the smaller positions facing us, at
+a distance of 15,000 paces; and constantly the bombs burst over our
+heads. At regular intervals a lyddite bomb--that gave us a shock through
+our whole body--came from the wood towards the cannon on our left. Once
+only part of our entrenchment, where, fortunately, no one happened to
+be, was blown to bits.
+
+Whenever there was a moment's pause, we lifted our heads above the
+trenches to have a look at the lovely landscape and at the positions of
+our enemy. That day not one of us was wounded. Only the artillery
+suffered. If our few cannon ventured to make themselves heard, eight or
+more bombs followed in quick succession to silence them. Next to me lay
+a man whose servant, a restless, impatient Bushman, most amicably
+addressed him as Johnny. The Bushman went to and fro continually to a
+'chum' of his who lay hidden behind a rock close to us. Once, on one of
+his visits to his 'chum,' a bullet struck the ground close to his
+heels; he stood still, looked slowly and defiantly from his heels to
+the enemy, and said in a most emphatic tone, 'You confounded
+Englishman!' and calmly proceeded on his way to his chum.
+
+To the right of this position was an open space, almost level with the
+immediate surroundings, but ending in a steep decline some 900 paces
+further on. There we went towards evening with a reinforcement of the
+Pretoria town commando that had followed us. The Field-Cornet made us
+stand in rows, and told off forty men to dig a trench that night. The
+rest of the men would relieve us the following night. My brother and I
+were in the first shift. Towards morning, while we were still digging at
+the trenches, fire was opened across the whole line of battle. We
+imagined that we were being attacked, and jammed ourselves in the narrow
+trench. But as the attack did not come off, and the bullets flew high
+over our heads, we went on digging until daybreak. Then we noticed that
+the enemy were lying in a trench about 800 paces ahead of us. We fired a
+few shots at them, but saved our ammunition for an eventual storming.
+
+The whole of that day and the two succeeding days there was a constant
+salvo over our heads. The bullets flew over our heads like finches, and
+did us no harm, but we had to be on our guard against the sharpshooters,
+who occasionally fired close to us. That day (January 24), the heroic
+Battle of Spion Kop took place, where our burghers, after having been
+surprised in the night by the enemy and driven off the kop, obliged
+them, after a stubborn fight, to abandon it again. The Pretoria men, who
+were to have relieved us in the trench, took a great part in that
+battle. Reineke, Yeppe, Malherbe, De Villiers, and Olivier were killed.
+Ihrige was severely wounded.
+
+All day long we lay listening to the fighting, for we could not sleep.
+We had to stay in the trench three days and four nights before we were
+relieved. Water and food were brought to us, or fetched by our men at
+night, as we did not venture to leave the trench by day. We were safe
+enough, for the bombs had not much effect on the sand-walls of our
+trench, and there was always time to stoop to avoid them. The following
+morning news was brought to us that the enemy had abandoned the whole
+line of battle and were retreating in the direction of Chieveley.
+
+The battle of the Tugela had lasted eight days.
+
+I had again hurt my knee, and had to leave Ladysmith for Pretoria, from
+whence I went to Warmbad at Waterberg to stay for a few weeks with Mrs.
+Klein-Frikkie Grobler, who received me most kindly. My brother Frits got
+leave for the first time then, too, and Willem remained at Ladysmith.
+During my absence the English broke through at Pieter's Heights, where
+Willem was made prisoner and Luettig, Malherbe and Stuart de Villiers
+were killed. Meanwhile Frits had gone, with some other Pretoria men, to
+the Orange Free State, where the enemy had surrounded General Cronje.
+
+Since the beginning of the siege our burghers always thought the town
+would fall soon. 'The khakies cannot hold out any longer! They have no
+provisions, and their ammunition must be coming to an end! Buller can
+never cross the Tugela, our positions are too good! What does it matter
+if _I_ do go on leave? The khakies cannot get through!' That was the
+opinion of most of the burghers. And if anyone ventured to point out
+that the enemy _might_ force their way through because we did not all do
+our duty, he was either not believed or looked upon as a traitor.
+Meanwhile enthusiasm was dying out. The burghers lay in their lagers or
+went home, trusting to the few willing ones, who ultimately proved not
+strong enough to withstand the overwhelming force that Buller brought to
+bear upon one point of our positions when he was obliged to force his
+way through at no matter what cost.
+
+No leave should have been given during the war, and here I may as well
+mention--although this tale does not pretend to be a history of the
+war--that it has been carried on with far too great laxity, owing to the
+ignorance of our Generals and the demoralizing influence of
+self-interest and nepotism. We should have sent our forces far into the
+Cape Colony to get help from our brothers in a war that had been forced
+upon us by England. The Colonial Afrikanders never had the opportunity
+of standing by us, because we did not supply them with the necessary
+ammunition or stretch out our hands towards them. Unless they had help
+from our invading forces, they dared not risk a rising, because of the
+confiscation of their property in case of failure.
+
+We have had to suffer--to suffer cruelly for our sins. Our enemy forced
+his way through the dyke that surrounded us, and like a stormy sea he
+ruined our homes, devastated our fields, and caused us endless
+suffering. Besides this, the talk of intervention had an enervating
+effecton the commandos. In our commando, which was largely composed of
+ignorant men, the strangest stories went round. One was that the
+Russians had landed somewhere in South Africa with 100 cannon. There was
+always talk of a great European War having broken out; and the
+consequence was that the Boers counted on intervention or help from the
+Powers, instead of depending on their own strength and perseverance. The
+most sensible among us recognised the improbability of intervention. It
+was not to the interest of any foreign Power to intervene in South
+Africa where it had no firm footing, particularly as Chamberlain had, by
+most cunning artifices, forced us to be the aggressors.
+
+War was inevitable. Sooner or later it had to come. After the Jameson
+Raid, which was really the beginning of the war, the Transvaal
+Government recognised the dangerous position in which it stood, as an
+isolated Republic, and was therefore obliged to arm itself with the most
+modern of military equipments. Before the Jameson Raid race hatred was
+dying out rapidly. The consequence of the raid was that the gap between
+Boer and Englishman widened, the sympathy of the Uitlanders for us grew
+deeper, and the Afrikander Bond grew stronger. England's prestige in
+South Africa was threatened, and with it her rank as first Power in the
+world. She had to maintain her supremacy in South Africa; while for us
+it had become a question of all or nothing. England has evidently
+succeeded in keeping up such friendly relations with the other Powers
+that no intervention seems possible.
+
+The relief of Ladysmith took place on February 28--a Majuba Day--a day
+that had been marked as a red-letter day in our calendars. For nineteen
+years the enemy have longed to wipe out the remembrance of that day, and
+they have done so brilliantly and malignantly. Since that time we have
+been humiliated and belittled. Our fall was great. For the first time
+there was a general panic. The two Republics, being forced to venture on
+war against a powerful kingdom, felt themselves staggering under the
+heavy blow.
+
+
+
+
+IV
+
+DEWETSDRIFT--RETURN TO, AND FLIGHT FROM, PRETORIA
+
+
+After the relief of Kimberley and Ladysmith we imagined that the
+decisive battles would soon follow. Although my knee was not yet cured,
+I went to Glencoe, whither our commandos had retreated. I was not five
+days there when I had to leave, being unfit for active service. Again I
+went to Warmbad for some weeks with Mr. Burgemeester Potgieter and his
+family, and on my return to Pretoria remained in my office until the
+beginning of May.
+
+Meanwhile Frits had returned from the Free State, and my knee was cured.
+We each bought ourselves a sturdy pony, and left, with some other
+burghers, by train for Klerksdorp, from where we went on to Dewetsdrift,
+on the Vaal River. General Viljoen was guarding the drift there with
+some hundreds of burghers. We rode from there some four or five hours
+into the Free State to spy the movements of the enemy.
+
+From Dewetsdrift we went, under Commandant Boshoff, to Schoemansdrift,
+Venterskroon, and Lindequidrift. Our division formed part of the escort
+for the guns. Our route lay through beautiful scenery. The Vaal twists
+and bends between two high mountains that curve on either side like the
+roads the khaki makes with his double row of waggons over the hills of
+the Hoogeveld. In every opening of the mountains lies a farm, a mean
+little house, but among well-cultivated fields. In nearly every farm the
+family was grieving for one of its members who had been taken prisoner
+along with Cronje, and of whose fate they were in ignorance. The people
+received us very kindly. Everywhere we got milk and biscuits, and we
+found afterwards that those people were the kindest who had suffered the
+most from the war.
+
+As the enemy were already on their way to Johannesburg, we had to
+retreat as rapidly as possible, first to Bank Station, near
+Potchefstroom, and then by train to Langlaagte. To the north-west of
+Johannesburg we had a skirmish with the enemy, who attacked us as we
+were feeding our horses. It appeared that our guard was not on duty. I
+have never seen horses saddled so quickly. Most of the burghers rode off
+and left us behind with the guns. One ammunition waggon stuck in the
+mud, and was left behind, but was brought in safety to Pretoria by Frans
+Lottering, a comrade of mine, who rode back for it with some gunners
+when we had fled. Lottering was given a sword by General de la Rey for
+his brave conduct. Through negligence on the part of our officers we
+lost on that occasion one gun, several waggons, and some of our men.
+
+Almost all night long we retreated with our guns to Pretoria. We had not
+lost courage. We all spoke of the thorough way in which our Government
+would have fortified Pretoria, and of the great battle that would take
+place there. We had all made up our minds to a stubborn resistance at
+our capital. What a bitter disappointment it was to find that our
+Government had decided not to defend the town! The causes that led to
+such a decision will be brought to light by historians. The consequences
+were that many of the burghers were discouraged, and rode 'huis-toe,'
+and nothing came of the great battle that was to have been fought.
+
+Frits and I decided to give our horses a few days' rest in their stables
+before going to meet the enemy.
+
+On June 4, at about twelve o'clock, while we were at luncheon, a lyddite
+bomb fell close to the fort, raising a cloud of dust. My mother went
+outside, and came back quickly to tell us that it was not a shot _from_
+the fort, but from the enemy. The bombs followed in quick succession.
+They flew over Schanskop fort, and fell close to our house at Sunnyside.
+As the ground was rocky they exploded well. My mother and sister fled
+with our neighbours to the town, and my brother and I saddled our horses
+and rode off to Quaggaspoort.
+
+From over the mountains, to the south of the town, the bombs came flying
+as a gentle warning from the khakies that it would be better to
+surrender in order to avoid a great calamity.
+
+It was sad to see how few horses there were at the foot of the mountain.
+Here a group of four, there of ten--a sign that the number of burghers
+in the positions was very small indeed. When the enemy appeared at
+Quaggaspoort, we noticed that the burghers from the direction of
+Krokodil River were retreating, and a moment later they were all in full
+flight. One of my comrades, a brother of Lottering, was wounded in the
+arm by a shell as he fled, and had to remain behind in Pretoria. That
+night my brother and I spent in our own home, but we left the town the
+following morning in the direction of Silverton, just before the enemy
+entered.
+
+It would be well to try and understand the condition of our country and
+the temper of our burghers.
+
+As the capital was in the hands of the enemy, it was easy enough to
+convince our simple-minded men that our country was irretrievably lost
+to us. Therefore a period of discouragement and demoralization followed.
+Many burghers, also, who had all along fought bravely now remained
+behind in the towns or on their farms, not daring to leave their wives
+and daughters at the mercy of the soldiers. We may not judge those men,
+neither need we consider it to our credit that we, either from a sense
+of duty or from a spirit of adventure, acted differently. There were
+many also who argued that the Government was corrupt, and that the war
+should have been prevented, or that the Boers did not want to fight. So
+they also became unfaithful to the cause, and to those along with whom
+they began the war. And the name of 'hands-upper' was earned by those
+burghers who of their own free will surrendered to the enemy. The chaff
+was divided from the grain; cowards and traitors remained behind, and
+the willing ones went to the veld, even though it were in a retreating
+direction. We were still very hopeful. There were still the good
+positions in the Lydenberg district, and we had heard that De Wet had
+cut the line of communication behind the enemy. We also still had an
+intact line to Delagoa Bay.
+
+My brother and I met our old comrade Frans Loitering, and the three of
+us went in search of General Grobler of Waterberg, who lay with his
+commando to the east of Pretoria at Franspoort, near Donkerhoek. There
+we joined his commando. Our camp was put up near a Kaffir location, and
+as the Kaffirs were clean, we often bought boiled sweet potatoes and
+crushed maize from them.
+
+Nothing particular happened at Franspoort. To the right and left of us
+some desperate fighting went on for several days, and at Donkerhoek a
+fierce battle took place, but we were not attacked.
+
+When the news came that the enemy had broken through our lines at
+Donkerhoek, and that we had to retreat, my brother and I left Grobler's
+commando. Thinking that the commandos would fall back upon the positions
+of Belfast, we went to Middelburg to an uncle of ours, the missionary
+Jan Mare, in order to give our horses a rest. We had lost sight of our
+comrade Frans. On our way we bought bread at the farms, or had it given
+us, cut a piece off an ox that had been slaughtered for the commando,
+and slept either in a manger or, as was more often the case, in the open
+air of the cold Hoogeveld. We arrived at Middelburg completely
+exhausted, and are not likely to forget our uncle's great hospitality.
+
+We accidentally met our former Commandant, Boshoff, who told us that he
+was on his way with ten men to join General de la Rey, who had gone in
+the direction of Rustenburg to cut the enemy's line of communication
+between Mafeking and Pretoria, and we very willingly joined him, after a
+delightful rest of ten days.
+
+The commando of Commandant Boshoff consisted of nine burghers with an
+ambulance waggon--that was used for the commissariat and for our
+bedding--a French doctor, two Kaffirs and two tents. It seemed as if we
+were going for a picnic. But it was necessary that we should be well
+provided with all sorts of things, as our journey would be through the
+Boschland, where fever and horse-sickness play havoc with man and horse
+in summer. In winter it is endurable for a few months only, so the
+country is very scarcely populated and almost uncultivated, and in
+winter the Boers trek there with their cattle from the bare, chill
+Hoogeveld. I had always longed to see that part of the Transvaal.
+
+
+
+
+V
+
+TREK FROM MIDDELBURG TO RUSTENBURG--BATTLE OF SELIKATSNEK
+
+
+Some hours north of Middelburg one suddenly leaves the high plateau of
+the Boschveld for a difficult road that curves steadily downwards
+between two high mountains until it reaches a wide, thickly-wooded
+valley. In the kloof (mountain-pass) a swiftly-flowing river cuts the
+road that goes along its banks, in several places, before it loses
+itself in the Olifants River. There the song of many birds, not to be
+found on the Hoogeveld, can be heard, and there it was delightfully
+warm, in comparison with the chilly air of the Hoogeveld. Of an evening
+we made large fires, as there was plenty of dry wood. We sat round the
+fire, chatting or listening to the comic songs which one of our comrades
+sang. It was a happy time--away from khaki, far beyond reach of the
+roar of cannon--a time of rest in preparation for the evil days that
+awaited us.
+
+Everywhere we saw flocks of sheep and herds of cattle grazing among the
+bushes--always a sign that we should find a waggon or two with tents
+close to them, under the nearest trees. Sometimes, near a drift or a
+good place to uitspan, quite a small lager had been formed of the trek
+Boers, or, rather, of their wives, for the husbands and sons of many had
+gone to the war. The Boers who fled with their cattle in that way we
+called 'Bush-lancers.' We came up with De la Rey's lager near the Elands
+River, and later on made the acquaintance of Captain Kirsten's scouts,
+to whom we offered our services. In those days it was very pleasant to
+belong to the reconnoitring corps. When we went to reconnoitre our
+horses got plenty of forage on the farms, and as we were few in number
+and always ahead of the lager, there were always eggs, bread, and milk
+to be had. We had enough to do, also, as we had to keep a sharp
+look-out, and we were in constant danger, but not at all afraid of the
+patrols of khakies, which, being small in number and without their
+guns, were pretty harmless. We advanced almost parallel to the Magalies
+Mountains, that stretch from Pretoria to Rustenburg, until we came to
+the neighbourhood of Selikatsnek. Unless one was well acquainted with
+the highways and byways of that part of the country, one was in constant
+danger of losing the way; it is a long stretch of bush, consisting of
+the well-known thorn-bushes of the Hoogeveld, for a distance of about
+ten miles deep. The principal passes of the Magalies Mountains were
+occupied by the enemy--Wonderboompoort, Hornsnek, Selikatsnek,
+Commandonek, Olifantsnek. General de la Rey had made up his mind to take
+Selikatsnek, and on July 11 he succeeded, by his strong will and
+military talent.
+
+While we were reconnoitring with Captain Kirsten's party we got the news
+that De la Rey had attacked Selikatsnek--about an hour's ride from where
+we were--and that the battle was still going on. We all rode to the
+scene of action, but my brother and I, with a few other men, remained
+behind to wait for Captain Kirsten, who was absent at the time. As soon
+as he arrived we rode off, and arrived at Selikatsnek at about nine
+o'clock. Our burghers had already taken two of the enemy's guns.
+
+Selikatsnek (or Moselikatsnek) is a narrow opening in the Magalies
+Mountains, with high shoulders on either side, that slope gradually to a
+white kopje in the centre. If an attacking party once occupies the
+shoulders, it can easily keep the enemy on the kopje or on the two
+slopes. When we arrived our burghers already occupied the principal
+positions--both shoulders and the smaller positions to the front of the
+kopje. The enemy had been obliged to draw in their clipped wings, and to
+concentrate on and in the neighbourhood of the white kopje.
+
+But as the shoulders of the pass were very steep on the other side, our
+men could not surround the enemy or attack them in the rear; and as
+there was not sufficient cover for them to go down the slope without
+great loss, in order to drive the enemy by force from their positions,
+the burghers remained 'rock-fast' in their positions, and made no
+progress at all. Thus, the enemy would either get reinforcements from
+Pretoria or escape when it got dark. Both our flanks kept up a constant
+fire on the slopes, and on the white kopje, but the shoulders were too
+high for a proper aim, and the khakies lay fast behind the boulders and
+in the clefts of the rocks.
+
+Captain Kirsten, with about ten men, was ordered by General Coetzee to
+hold a position to the right of the white kopje, and prevent the enemy
+from taking it. This position consisted of a small rise, from which we
+could fire at the kopje with a sight of 550 paces. To the right of this
+rise, at a distance of 80 paces, was a small kloof overgrown with
+bushes, and on the other side of the kloof ran a reef of rocks in the
+direction of the white kopje. Here some of the burghers had before our
+arrival forced eleven khakies to surrender, but they had not succeeded
+in occupying the position, as some khakies had remained in the kloof,
+and had shouted to them that they would not surrender. We were therefore
+warned against that kloof. But while the others were shooting at the
+enemy on the white kopje, one of our men went by himself to see if there
+really were any khakies left there. He kept under cover wherever he
+could--behind the rocks and behind the walls of an old kraal--and came
+close up to the kloof without being fired at. On the other side, at a
+distance of fifty paces, he heard a wounded man groaning and begging for
+water; but, as he was alone, he did not venture to cross the kloof. He
+returned to his comrades, but they would pay no attention to his request
+to cross, as they thought the enemy were only waiting until more men
+came under fire before they began firing.
+
+We continued shooting at the white kopje, from which the enemy were
+firing at us. The Captain had a good telescope, through which he could
+distinctly see the faces of the enemy on the kopje. If a khaki showed
+himself from behind a rock, the Captain pointed him out to one of our
+marksmen, Alec Boshoff, who studied the position through the telescope,
+and took such good aim that the Captain declared he could see the blood
+on the wounded man's face.
+
+The burgher who had gone to the kloof tried to persuade the rest to
+cross with him to the other side, as he was sure the enemy were not
+inclined to make any resistance there. At length, after twelve, he went
+with two others to the opposite side, but first told a few of the best
+marksmen to keep an eye on the reef. They crossed the kloof very
+cautiously. It was dangerous work, as a shot might come at any moment
+from behind one of the numerous shrubs or boulders. But they did not
+advance in an unbroken line. Every time they sought cover behind a rock,
+from which they watched to see whether the enemy would make their
+appearance. They did not all three advance at the same time, either, but
+first one and then the other. Whenever they had advanced a few steps,
+they stopped to ask the wounded man, who lay groaning there, whether he
+was alone. When they reached him they put some grass under his head, and
+gave him some brandy from a flask that they always carried with them.
+The poor man lay in a pool of blood on a rock under some shrubs. He had
+been shot through the leg. His name was Lieutenant Pilkington.
+
+The wounded man took hold of the hands of one of the burghers and begged
+him to stay with him. He, however, considered it his duty to advance,
+but first assured the poor man that the burghers who were following
+could also speak English, and would look after him. Most of our men
+followed the three. The rocks and boulders on the reef that we were
+climbing afforded us splendid cover from the enemy on the white kopje.
+
+To our left we found some more wounded. My brother took charge of one
+with a ghastly wound in his head. We made some prisoners there, who were
+too cowardly to defend themselves. A few of our comrades took them down.
+We could notice by the guns and rugs that were lying about that the
+enemy had fled in a panic, or else we should never have ventured to do
+what we did later on.
+
+We could fire at the enemy from a much shorter distance now, but were
+not yet in their rear. It was necessary that we should occupy the next
+position--a reef running parallel to the reef we were climbing, at a
+distance of eighty paces. But it was impossible to take that position,
+as our guns were firing bomb after bomb from the valley at our back,
+somewhat to the left of us, so that the stones flew up in the air. We
+also ran the risk of being taken for khakies, as our men knew nothing of
+our venture. The Captain sent down a message to tell them to stop
+shelling that position, as we wished to take it. Meanwhile, we kept on
+firing at the white kopje, and the khakies kept on firing at us.
+
+I went back to the wounded officer, who was being looked after by the
+Captain. While we were standing talking, he died from loss of blood. Oh
+the cruel brutality of war! The poor man was not dead five minutes when
+we sat smoking his cigarettes.
+
+We moved slightly more to the left towards the boulders. Khaki was on
+the one side, we on the other. Some of our men had a most original and
+amusing way of getting at the khakies. 'Come out, you rabbits, come out
+of your holes, else we'll shoot down the lot of you!' Then the poor
+things answered: 'We're afraid to come out. You'll kill us!' They really
+thought we would shoot them down if they surrendered. The officers had
+lost all control over the soldiers. Later on, at Nooit Gedacht, where
+_we_ had cover as well as the enemy, it was proved that as soon as the
+officers lose control over the men they remain lying behind the rocks
+without firing a shot, as they are too frightened to expose themselves.
+Most of them still had their bandoliers full of cartridges--there, too,
+when they surrendered.
+
+Before the war the English used to say they would fight us in our own
+way, from behind rocks; but they forgot that as soon as an officer,
+having to seek cover himself, fails to keep his eye on his men, they are
+too cowardly to lift their heads from behind the rocks, as they are not
+fighting for their independence. On a field like Selikatsnek we are by
+far the better men.
+
+To get the khakies from behind the rocks, one of our men ran as hard as
+he could to a rock in their neighbourhood, and aimed at them. Then some
+of them threw down their guns and put up their hands. Others surrendered
+more calmly. So he sometimes made five or six of them surrender without
+their having fired a single shot at him. A shower of bullets always came
+from the white kopje, but, as his movements were quick and unexpected,
+they could not take proper aim at him. One of the khakies said as he
+surrendered: 'It is better to surrender than to be a dead man.' Another:
+'Just fancy, in the hands of the Boers! I wonder what poor mother 'll
+say!'
+
+Meanwhile the gunners had received the Captain's report, and ceased
+bombarding the reef that we wanted to storm. As it was getting late and
+there was no other means, one of our men ran forward as hard as he
+could, making use of every small covering, while the rest kept firing at
+the white kopje to prevent the enemy from taking a proper aim at him.
+There were not many khakies behind that reef, neither did they fire at
+him. The rest of us followed at intervals, while those who arrived at
+the reef again fired at the white kopje to cover the others.
+
+The few khakies who surrendered at the reef we first disarmed, and then
+we allowed them to seek cover behind the rocks from the bullets of their
+friends. From that position we could see the enemy from the rear. In the
+narrow road, at a distance of about 150 paces from us, stood an
+ammunition waggon with splendid horses harnessed in it; there was no
+room for them to turn to draw away the waggon. A few khakies showed
+themselves next to the waggon, but were immediately shot down. A little
+further on an ambulance waggon, also inspanned, stood against the kopje;
+one could distinctly see how the empty litter was carried up and
+brought down again with some of the wounded. Once a man walked next to
+the litter as it was carried down; I pointed him out to my brother, as I
+suspected his motive. I was right. Just by the ambulance waggon he
+disappeared in a donga leading to the valley. My brother, who was a
+little higher up the reef than I was, could not hit him, as he appeared
+again only for a moment. He was most likely a despatch-rider who went to
+warn the guard at Commandonek to retreat.
+
+Further on there were some horses to be seen, and a little further still
+the small tents of which the camps consisted. We kept up a constant
+fire, but the enemy seemed to have sufficient cover on the kopje--and
+they were very obstinate. For some time the firing from the shoulders of
+the pass ceased, and in the dark shadow between the high mountains we
+for a moment had the feeling that we had been deserted by our men--only
+for a moment, for we knew it could not be! The game was in our hands.
+
+The sun sank lower, and we felt if the enemy were not soon compelled, to
+surrender they would escape in the dark. There was still one position
+which must be taken--the last reef, to which most of the enemy had
+retired from the position we now occupied. One of our men, therefore,
+let the other six fire a salvo at the kopje, and ran as hard as he could
+to a rock at a distance of twenty-five paces ahead, about halfway to the
+last reef. But now both the enemy and our own burghers, under Commandant
+Coetzee, fired at him so persistently that he was thankful to reach the
+rock. He lay there as still as possible, with his gaze fixed on the
+reef--as he lay without cover on that side. It was a most critical
+moment.
+
+Fortunately he heard, almost at once, one of his comrades, Van Zulch,
+call out 'Oh, the white flag! Hullo, the white flag!' and he saw them
+climbing down. He lay still a moment longer to convince himself of the
+fact, and then calmly went to the last reef, where many khakies
+surrendered--and he descended with them. Now the rest of the burghers
+came running along from all directions to disarm the enemy in the
+dusk--and to take what booty there was to be had. In their eagerness to
+get as much booty as possible, they allowed an officer, Major Scobel,
+to escape.
+
+As I arrived rather late on the battlefield, I cannot give any account
+of the order in which De la Rey placed his men, neither do I know the
+number of the enemy's dead and wounded, nor how many lives our victory
+cost us. I have never seen any official report concerning this battle.
+Field-Cornet Van Zulch, who with Commandant Boshoff, took the officers
+to Machadodorp, and who is at present a fellow-prisoner, tells me that
+three officers--Colonel Roberts, Lieutenants Davis and Lyall--and 210
+soldiers of the Lincolnshire Regiment were taken prisoners, and that
+four companies of the Scots Greys had early that morning escaped with
+two guns. Our loss, both dead and wounded, was not more than thirteen or
+fourteen men. The enemy had made a stubborn resistance, judging from the
+number of dead and wounded that were lying on the field. Of the seven of
+us who forced the enemy to surrender by attacking them in the rear, not
+one was injured, although we were the attacking party. They say that the
+khaki prisoners whom we left on the reef remained there all night, and
+came down the following morning with little white flags made of the
+bandages that a soldier always carries with him, tied to twigs.
+
+
+
+
+VI
+
+GUERILLA LIFE ON THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS--NARROW ESCAPE OF PRESIDENT
+STEYN AND GENERAL DE WET.
+
+Commandant Boshoff had been ordered to take the prisoners to
+Machadodorp. He left my brother and me with Captain Kirsten, who had to
+reconnoitre in the direction of Rustenburg along the Magalies Mountains.
+We first of all passed through Commandonek, and found that deserted by
+the enemy. We had no adventures on our way to Rustenburg.
+
+The Rustenburgers, who had nearly all laid down their arms and taken the
+oath of neutrality, took courage when they saw De la Rey's big commando,
+and joined us one and all.
+
+Then we recognised a great fault in the character of our people. Without
+the slightest compunction, they first fail in loyalty to their own
+country, and then break the oath of neutrality, although the enemy had
+in no single respect violated their part of the contract. Some of them
+we, in a way, forced to join us, as we took the guns and horses of the
+unwilling ones or of those who acted at all in a suspicious way. We also
+called them traitors. But most of the burghers joined us of their own
+free will. Many had not taken the oath of neutrality, as they had been
+beyond the reach of the enemy; others had, after Lord Roberts'
+threatening proclamations, ridden over to the enemy to give up their
+arms, but had given up their old rifles and kept the Mausers for
+'eventualities,' to use the now historical word of Sir Alfred Milner.
+
+A few of the oath-breakers tried to excuse themselves by the Jesuit plea
+that either they did not mean what they swore or else they had purposely
+changed the form of the oath. In judging those who broke the oath of
+neutrality later on, we must remember that the enemy did not keep to
+their part of the contract, and so our men were justified in considering
+it as null and void, and, according to William Stead, their forcing us
+to take the oath of neutrality was against the Geneva Convention. But it
+is too difficult a question for me to discuss.
+
+When the enemy, a few days later, drove us from Olifantsnek, General de
+la Rey sent Captain Kirsten with twenty men to the neighbouring kopjes
+to prevent the enemy from going on a plundering expedition. Then I for
+the first time saw a farm-house burnt down by the enemy. From a high
+kopje, by the aid of a telescope, we could distinctly see the movements
+of the khakies. The bitter feeling that was roused in us in our
+helplessness is not to be described.
+
+General Baden-Powell was in Rustenburg, and Magatonek was also in
+possession of the enemy.
+
+It was a most interesting and adventurous time that we spent near the
+Magalies Mountains. By day we went reconnoitring along the hills near
+the mountains in the direction of Olifantsnek, and towards evening we
+withdrew into the thick woods of the kloofs, where it was delightfully
+warm both for ourselves and for our horses. When a small number of the
+enemy came in our direction, we fired at them unexpectedly from the
+hills, and so protected the farm-houses on the mountain-sides.
+Occasionally the khakies ventured a little nearer, but always had to
+retreat in disorder.
+
+I once nearly fell into the hands of the enemy. As we were reconnoitring
+on one of the kopjes, I suggested to a friend that we should go to the
+farm in front of us, where none of us had been since Olifantsnek was in
+possession of the enemy. We had to ford a donga closed in by barbed
+wire. When we got to the farm, we were told that the enemy had not been
+there, with the exception of a khaki who had lost his way. He had taken
+six eggs from a nest in a kraal and swallowed them greedily, and had
+then passed on to the garden without speaking a word to the harmless,
+inquisitive women of the farm.
+
+For safety's sake I put the boys on guard and had the horses tied. The
+view was so enclosed on all sides that the enemy could appear most
+unexpectedly from Olifantsnek. We had been there only a short time, when
+we were told that the enemy were coming in large numbers from the
+direction of Rustenburg. We mounted at once and rode back, but could
+not get back to our comrades on the hills because of the barbed wire in
+the donga. We had gone only about 250 paces along the drift, when the
+enemy came riding along. Fortunately, they were intent on plunder and
+did not see us, as they kept their eyes fixed in the direction of the
+house. If we had been a few seconds later we should have fallen into
+their hands. The few burghers on the kopjes began to fire at them, and
+when I got to the top of one of the kopjes I saw the enemy--about 100 in
+number--fleeing in great disorder. This expedition cost them several
+dead and wounded, besides their plunder--meal, fowls, and other
+things--that they dropped in their flight.
+
+When I went back to the farm later on, I was told that one of the girls
+had clapped her hands with delight when the enemy fled past them. That
+must have been the reason why she and her family were so cruelly
+insulted and plundered by the khakies afterwards. We met with great
+kindness during our stay in the Magalies Mountains. We always got
+something to eat, and towards evening we bought some loaves of bread to
+take back with us to our hiding-place. In those days we could always
+get forage for our horses, and they were in very good condition.
+
+Meanwhile General de la Rey had gone with a commando to the west of
+Rustenburg, and had left two Commandants in the Zwartkoppen, to the
+north-east of Rustenburg.
+
+When we got the tidings that the enemy had taken possession of
+Selikatsnek, we went as rapidly as we could to the Zwartkoppen. We had
+many adventures on our way. My brother and I rode on ahead, thinking
+that the others would follow, but they went a round-about way, and so
+did not catch us up. When we left the wide tract of wood that stretches
+along the Magalies Mountains, we noticed that the enemy from Rustenburg
+had come to meet the column from Selikatsnek. Fortunately, our horses
+were good, and we escaped the danger by riding back into the wood to a
+farm that I knew of. While we were giving our horses a rest there, a
+despatch-rider came along looking for a reconnoitring corps. We rode
+with him in the track of our comrades, who had taken a great circuit
+round Rustenburg. We arrived safely at Zwartkoppen, and immediately
+joined Commandant Boshoff, who had just returned from Machadodorp.
+
+The Commandants now followed General de la Rey. We came up with his
+commando to the west of Rustenburg, where he had surrounded a party of
+the enemy. Commandant Boshoff, however, was immediately sent to
+Olifantsnek, as the enemy had left Rustenburg and the pass was clear.
+Our men were most changeable in their moods. The slightest favourable
+tidings raised their spirits, but any unfavourable news made their
+courage sink into their shoes. There was much talk about the retreating
+movement of the enemy. Some spoke of intervention; others said the
+English soldiers had refused to fight any longer, or that the whole of
+the colony was in rebellion. This talk went the round even among the
+officers, probably because they did not understand the enemy's
+movements.
+
+Now we know the meaning of it all. It was De Wet who was being followed.
+We were not two days at Olifantsnek, when, to our great surprise, De Wet
+arrived with a commando of 2,800 men, followed by 40,000 English. He
+had been by treason separated along with Steyn from the chief commando,
+and had been chased by the enemy a month already.
+
+It was a great lager that advanced through Olifantsnek--the largest
+commando that we had seen yet, with numerous carts, waggons, beasts of
+burden, and other belongings. And it was then I made the acquaintance of
+President Steyn and De Wet. Our Commandant with his men accompanied
+President Steyn to Machadodorp to President Kruger. We put up our tents
+for the time being next to those of President Steyn, so that we had time
+and opportunity enough to learn to know him. When the enemy a few days
+later broke through at Magatonek, to the west of Rustenburg, General De
+Wet sent for me one evening and ordered me to take a report to
+Rustenburg, and gave me some instructions for the Commandants there.
+
+I had to take a message for President Steyn also, that the ambulance of
+the Orange Free State was to follow the lager in the direction of the
+Krokodil River.
+
+Late at night I arrived at Rustenburg, only to find that the lagers had
+already taken flight. The enemy were expected at any moment. But the
+ambulance was there still, and all night long I led it in the direction
+the General had told me the lagers would take.
+
+Late the following morning I arrived at De Wet's lager, which had moved
+a few hours further on to Sterkstroom. The commando left there that
+afternoon, and went along the Magalies Mountains to Commandonek. That
+day and that night we had a first experience of the long tiresome
+marches that enabled De Wet to mislead the enemy.
+
+That night President Steyn made a most favourable impression on us with
+his talk. He did not try to encourage us with hopes of intervention, but
+merely pointed out that the war might last a long time still, and that
+we would have to enter the Colony.
+
+At Commandonek we rested a few hours while De Wet himself went to
+reconnoitre. He sent a message to the English officer in charge of the
+pass that he must surrender. The officer replied that he did not quite
+understand _who_ must surrender--he or De Wet. I think this was merely a
+dodge on De Wet's part to find out by the signature of the reply who
+was in charge of the army at the pass, and so to make a guess at the
+numbers of the enemy.
+
+He decided not to attack the pass, and before daybreak next day we were
+on the move again. Some time afterwards at Warmbad I heard that an
+English General had related this dodge of De Wet's, but he thought De
+Wet had threatened him with a very small force, as his commando must
+still have been at Olifantsnek. It is an example of the way we misled
+the enemy by our mobility.
+
+
+
+
+VII
+
+WITH PRESIDENT STEYN TO PRESIDENT KRUGER
+
+
+Near Krokodil River, on Carlyle's Farm, President Steyn and his
+attendants separated from De Wet's commando, and went in the direction
+of Zoutpan to Machadodorp. We were about seventy-five men in all. The
+little commando consisted of carts, a few trolleys, and horsemen on
+strong, well-conditioned horses. The Free Staters nearly all had one or
+two spare horses. Our own commando still always consisted of twelve or
+thirteen men, and the small ambulance waggon which we used for
+provisions. The French doctor had remained behind with De la Rey. We
+moved very fast. At Zoutpan--a sunken kopje like the mouth of a crater,
+with a pan at the bottom, from which the salt is got--I met some old
+acquaintances, who pretended to have come there for salt. During our
+talk my suspicions were roused by their curiosity, and by their
+knowledge of President Steyn's arrival. I also doubted their tale that
+their trolley stood behind a kopje, and not at Zoutpan, and I warned the
+Commandant against them. He became very anxious, and made us move on as
+rapidly as possible, for once we had crossed the Pienaars River all
+danger from khaki would be past. It was a good thing that the Commandant
+made us travel so fast, for we had only just outspanned at Pienaars
+River the following morning when the khakies' bomb-Maxim began firing at
+the outposts of General Grobler's Waterberg commando, which was
+stationed there. We had only just time to inspan and ride off to the
+Boschveld, towards the Olifants River, where we would be safe, while
+General Grobler disappeared in the direction of Warmbad.
+
+At Pienaars River I made the acquaintance of General Celliers, who was
+loudly proclaiming the way in which he would squash khaki if only the
+burghers would fight. He is the exception to the rule that all braggarts
+are cowards. Most of the braggarts have gradually disappeared from the
+scene, but the deeds of this hero were always in accordance with his
+words.
+
+We heard afterwards that a detachment of the enemy had followed us, but
+we had had too great a start, and had besides taken a short-cut of which
+they knew nothing. It would not have been easy for the khakies to
+overtake a well-mounted commando like President Steyn's.
+
+We were also told that the enemy knew of the arrival of President Steyn,
+which strengthened my belief that the two suspicious characters at
+Zoutpan were the informers. Whenever we, as the attacking party, made
+prisoners, they always declared that they had known all about our plan
+of attack--probably to discourage us with the thought that through the
+treachery of our own people the enemy always knew all about our
+movements.
+
+For a long way we followed the same road that we had taken with
+Commandant Boshoff to Rustenburg. We arrived safely at Waterval-Boven
+(President Kruger having already retreated from Machadodorp), where we
+stayed a few days and heard the famous Battle of Dalmanutha (August
+27)--the most awful roar of cannon that I have ever heard.
+
+From Waterval-Boven we went to Nelspruit, to which President Kruger had
+moved in his railway-home. We gave our horses a week's rest and passed
+the time fishing and hunting. We were content there, as we got plenty to
+eat, and our horses, too, were well fed--an important matter to us just
+then. Circumstances were forcing us to attach much value to all sorts of
+trifles that we would formerly not even have noticed.
+
+If once one has suffered the pangs of hunger, one learns to value the
+comfort and luxury of home; and if one has wandered about for weeks
+without seeing woman or child, one learns to appreciate their gentleness
+and charm and to understand Schiller's Zuechtige Hausfrau in 'Das Lied
+von der Glocke.' How often in our wanderings we longed for good
+literature during our long, tiring, monotonous rides! And how terrible
+was the thought of the moral hurt we were suffering--voluntarily in a
+way, yet forced to it by a sense of honour and duty. For in this lay the
+grievousness of the war, that a powerful nation--influenced by a few
+unscrupulous leaders--was trying to annihilate a small nation that
+demanded the right of existence, and was therefore forced to defend that
+right. It was a happy time for us when we had the opportunity of turning
+our thoughts towards literature and other things than commando work.
+
+The privations that we had already endured were small indeed in
+comparison to those which awaited us. It was well with the Uitlander
+optimist who remained in our country while the Republics could give him
+the comforts he demanded as his right, but who, as soon as things went
+wrong, and he saw nothing but misery in the future, left for his own
+country--there to sit in judgment on our peasant-nation. How I long for
+the gift of being able to express myself, to give a true account of the
+self-denial of our burghers and of the misery that we endured! How my
+heart bleeds when I think of the great sorrow that has come upon my poor
+people!
+
+When the enemy approached the Delagoa railway-line, President Steyn left
+with his escort for Hectorspruit. I had to follow with a trolley for
+which there was no room on the train. Because of the disorder that
+reigned everywhere I had to wait nearly three days before I could start.
+I was pretty nearly famished on my arrival at Hectorspruit, and ate
+greedily of the remains of the porridge left by some burghers, among
+whom were two sons of State Secretary Reitz. President Steyn's lager had
+in the meanwhile become 250 men strong, under Commandant Lategan, and
+was then at Krokodil River.
+
+At Nelspruit I met a couple of old friends, Malherbe and Celliers, with
+whom I left for the lager. They were both Transvaalers who had been
+studying in Holland, but had returned before finishing their studies on
+account of the war. The commando was well supplied with weapons and
+ammunition, as the Delagoa Bay line brought plenty to our store. What
+became of the rest I do not know, as President Steyn was in a hurry and
+our commando left first for the North.
+
+The ford at Krokodil River was about fifty paces wide--made for the
+occasion and difficult to cross. The trolleys and waggons that had to
+cross to the lager on the opposite side gave us much trouble, as they
+sank deep into the sand. We harnessed a double span of oxen to the
+waggons, undressed ourselves, and had to swim alongside the animals to
+get them through. Occasionally something dropped from one of the waggons
+and had to be fished up in a hurry to save it from the strong current.
+There was much shouting and laughter, and if any crocodile had been in
+the neighborhood he would have suppressed his hunger until the storm was
+over.
+
+On the banks of the river there was a constant shooting at fish and game,
+and even at crocodiles, who showed themselves occasionally. There was
+game in abundance. It seemed as if all the game of the Transvaal, that
+is becoming so scarce, had fled to this part.
+
+We were on our way to Pietersburg through the Boschveld of South-East
+Lydenburg, which might be called a desert in winter. It was a journey
+difficult even for a trek Boer, and more than difficult for a large
+commando. A man called Bester was our guide. Some two years before he
+had made the same journey on a hunting expedition, and now he was able
+to follow the ruts which the wheels of his waggon had made then, and
+which would be in all probability deepened by the summer rains. Our
+means of transport were chiefly carts and trolleys, on which we also put
+our bedding to lighten the burden of our riding horses.
+
+
+
+
+VIII
+
+WITH PRESIDENT STEYN IN THE BOSCHVELD--LOST
+
+
+On September 12 we left the Krokodil River early in the morning, after
+first watering our cattle and filling our water-bags. Our guide did not
+expect to come across any water before the Sabie--a river several days'
+journey further on. There were several springs on the way, but as that
+part of the country was so little known, because of its unhealthiness,
+no one could tell when the last rains had fallen.
+
+The shrubs and bushes had grown high above the ruts made by the waggon
+two years ago, and were a great hindrance to us. The road we followed
+twisted and wound rather more than was agreeable, but it was certainly
+easy to follow for the lagers that came after us. The horsemen rode next
+to the lagers to shoot bucks. We had no 'slaughter-cattle' with us, so
+had to live on the game that we shot.
+
+In the neighbourhood of the river we still came across birds and
+insects, but the further we went the more monotonous and _dead_ Nature
+became. I could never have pictured such a lifeless wood to myself. No
+sound of insects was to be heard, no chirp or song of bird; and not even
+the trail of a serpent was to be seen.
+
+There was a melancholy stillness. Traces of game were in abundance. It
+seemed as if only those animals lived there which, accustomed to the
+monotonous silence, withdrew noiselessly from the gaze of the
+interloper, or, in their ignorant curiosity, stood still until a
+hunter's bullet warned them or put an end to their lives. To them we
+must have been strange disturbers of the peace. Shots fell in all
+directions; sometimes a whole salvo was discharged when we came upon a
+herd of bucks. There were many thornless trees growing in their stately
+height far above the usual scrub of the Boschveld. Our horses often
+grazed on the sweet buffalo grass that always grows under trees. Looked
+at from a rise, the Boschveld appeared to be nothing but trees--trees
+as far as the eye could see. One shuddered at the thought of what would
+become of anyone who lost his way there, since for miles and miles there
+was no water to be seen and no trail to go by. It made one hurry back to
+the safety of the lager, trusting to the capability of the guide.
+
+To our great joy, the first spring contained water. It was a large pool
+surrounded by rocks, where the game was accustomed to drink. We arrived
+there towards afternoon, rested a few hours, and continued our journey
+with fresh courage. As the waggons moved too slowly for our liking, we
+rode on ahead; but the consequence was that, when it got dark and we
+off-saddled, we had no bedding, for nearly all the waggons were obliged
+to outspan when darkness set in, as there was no road.
+
+We knee-haltered our horses in case there were lions about, and
+collected a large quantity of wood to keep the fire going all night.
+That night our talk, of course, ran upon lion-hunting and shooting
+expeditions. Then we crept as close to the fire as possible, and were
+soon in a troubled, or untroubled, sleep, dreaming of lions and other
+wild animals. But I felt the cold very much, and could not sleep without
+my rug, and kept turning from side to side to get as much warmth from
+the fire as possible. If only I had made two fires! In a battle I have
+been between two fires, and did not find it at all agreeable, but in
+this case it would have been different.
+
+I lay awake, waiting for the third fire, the red dawn, but not in a
+poetical mood. There is a time for everything; that I learnt during the
+war. Rain is lovely, and cold gives energy, but one must be warm to
+appreciate it. As I lay thus, four mules, tethered together, came closer
+and closer up to our fire, grazing all the while. I lay still, listening
+to the peculiar noise made by the biting off of each mouthful of grass.
+I seemed to expect a joke, and suddenly one of the mules fell on his
+back. In a moment all our heroes were up and ready to defend themselves
+against lions or khakies, according to their different dreams. I
+laughed, and laughed again, so that the hyenas could hear me a mile off,
+and the startled lion-hunters began to laugh also, so that we woke up
+the whole camp. This little episode made my blood circulate, so that I
+very soon also was in the land of dreams.
+
+As the burghers chased all the game on ahead of the lager, the President
+and Commandant Boshoff agreed to go in advance, so as to have a chance
+of seeing the numerous kinds of wild buck and larger game. I went with
+them. Greatly to my distress I forgot to ask our guide what direction we
+would take that day with regard to the sun. An experienced hunter would
+not have forgotten it, as he knows from experience that in the
+excitement of the chase we often leave the beaten track. I had to pay
+dearly for my forgetfulness. I rode some distance to the left of the
+President, but took care to keep him in sight. But the Boer is
+wonderfully disobedient to any authority, and not long after two men
+made their appearance to my left, and I saw that if I did not look out
+they would be ahead of me in no time, and chase all the game away from
+me. As the donga next to which we rode seemed to be a favourite resort
+for game, I took the same direction as they did, more to the left. The
+dongas ran into each other with numerous bends and curves, and were
+sometimes overgrown with high grass, then again quite bare. I paid no
+attention to the direction we took.
+
+After a while one of the men wounded a buck, and they both rode into the
+donga after it. I rode on, to cross the donga a little further on, so as
+not to have to follow in the track of the other two, and saw a red buck
+on the other side, which I wounded so badly that it seemed unnecessary
+to fire again, and I rode leisurely towards it. But when I had crossed
+the donga the buck had disappeared, and I began to seek for the traces
+of blood, but I soon had to give up the search, not to lose sight of the
+other two men. They, however, seemed to be a great distance off, as I
+did not overtake them, and I did not succeed in tracing them in the
+direction that the wounded buck had led them, as the track in the grass
+was invisible to my inexperienced eye.
+
+I rode back to the donga, and deliberated on the course to take. In all
+directions I heard shots, right and left, but I stood irresolute. I had
+no watch with me to find the four quarters of the wind, but the sun had
+only just risen, and I made a guess with an imaginary compass. It was
+lucky for me that I made such a good guess, and had paid great attention
+to the direction we had taken with regard to the sun. I was certain that
+I should come upon the traces of the lager if only I kept within the
+sides of a right angle, unless the lager had at the start taken a sharp
+turn to the right or left.
+
+But it was possible that in our excitement we might have crossed the
+waggon track which the lager was to follow; then the lager would be far
+to the right. Standing thus like the ass between two bundles of hay, I
+was not in the mood to think lightly of my case, but had to act at once,
+so I chose the safest and more probable of the two sides of my right
+angle--namely, the left, as I would then in any case not be moving
+towards Portuguese territory, and could always turn to the Krokodil
+River.
+
+I felt pretty certain now, as it was more probable that we had not
+crossed the old waggon tract, and every moment I expected to hear the
+switching of the long whips. But when I had gone some distance I was
+obliged to return to the donga, and retrace my way to the place where we
+had slept. A clever Boer would have succeeded in finding the way back,
+but I soon lost my way altogether. I lost the traces of the horse's
+hoofs, and the dongas looked to me so different that in one place where
+a donga branched off I did not know which to follow. An intense feeling
+of desolation took possession of me. Lost in a wilderness without food
+or water! I thought of the twelve or thirteen men who got lost in this
+wood on a hunting expedition, and of whom only one was saved. A great
+fear came upon me. Gradually I became calmer, and tried to form some
+plan of action. I resolved to keep to the left, where I had already seen
+a solitary mountain. Perhaps water was to be found there.
+
+My gun was loaded with Dum-Dum bullets, specially prepared for bucks. I
+had filed through the steel to the lead, so that the bullet would expand
+at once when it came into contact with bone. I found a buck tame in its
+very wildness, but I missed it, for the aim of my gun, a fine sporting
+Mauser, had been bent by the branches of the trees. It was a good thing
+that I did not come across a lion, or, rather, that a lion did not come
+across me.
+
+I had to ride under trees, through shrubs and grass, and had to keep a
+sharp look-out, as the king of beasts sometimes takes the lords of
+creation unawares. And I had to look out for an opportunity to shoot a
+buck--the only food within my reach. The nearer I came to the mountain,
+the surer I was that I had lost my way completely, and the more I became
+reconciled to my fate. I planned how I should build a large fire in the
+night for myself and my horse, and how I should defend myself against a
+lion with a burning piece of wood.
+
+Suddenly my horse went faster and pushed to the left. Greatly to my
+astonishment, I saw that the attraction was a little stream of water
+that he had scented in a donga. I off-saddled, and let my horse graze in
+the luxuriant grass.
+
+Now I was strengthened in my belief that I had taken the wrong
+direction, for we were all under the impression that we should not soon
+reach water. I prepared some more Dum-Dum bullets with a small file that
+I carried in my pocket, and did not let my horse graze long, but
+hastened to the mountain to find a better shelter for the night. To my
+great joy, I came upon the wide road about a thousand paces further on.
+I followed the road along the mountain for half an hour, when I came
+upon the lager, camped near a stream--probably the same stream at which
+I and my horse had quenched our thirst.
+
+As we sat round our fires that night we heard shots fired in the
+distance from the direction that we had come. Some men were sent out
+immediately, and returned after a while with a man quite exhausted from
+hunger and thirst, and paralyzed with fear; he had been unable to
+overtake the lager.
+
+
+
+
+IX
+
+PRACTICAL HINTS--ADVENTURE ON THE SABIE--NORTH OF LYDENBURG
+
+
+Experience teaches us. The knowledge that we have gained in this war we
+must pass on to the coming generation. It may be of use in a war of the
+future, or on some other occasion. Therefore Oom Dietlof will take this
+opportunity to give his nephews in South Africa some practical hints
+that may be of use to a burgher in his travels or in a war. If anyone
+loses his way in the same way that I have just described, he must
+remember the following way of finding the four quarters of the wind:
+
+The small hand of a watch describes a circle in twelve hours, while the
+apparent movement of the sun round the earth is in twenty-four hours.
+The movement of the small hand is therefore twice as fast as that of
+the sun. If one points the small hand of a horizontal-lying watch to the
+sun at twelve o'clock, then the hands and the figure XII. lie in the
+meridian as well as the sun.
+
+In the northern half-circle the sun and the hands move in the same
+direction. In one hour's time the small hand goes a distance of
+360 deg./12 = 30 deg., and the sun goes a distance of 360 deg./24 = 15
+deg. If at one o'clock one points the small hand of a horizontal-lying
+watch to the sun, the line that divides the acute angle between the
+figures I. and XII. lies in the meridian. So one can always find the
+meridian.
+
+In the southern half-circle the sun and hands move in opposite
+directions, therefore one must point the figure XII. to the sun, and
+then divide the acute angle between the figure XII. and the small hand
+to find the meridian.
+
+In this way one can at any time find out the direction one has taken.
+But everyone has not always a good watch, and the sun sometimes hides
+behind the clouds. Then it is better to have a good compass--but better
+still not to lose one's way.
+
+Besides such simple articles as a pocket-knife, a water-bag, etc.,
+which are indispensable to a traveller in our country, everyone ought to
+carry with him a good plaster, a nosebag, and some snake poison; maize
+(mealies) for his horse, the cheapest and most strengthening food that
+we know of, can always be carried in the nosebag. Snake poison prepared
+by a good Kaffir doctor is the only cure for snake-bites or the bite of
+any poisonous insect. The Kaffirs prepare it from some (to us) unknown
+shrub, and from the poison of the most venomous snake, which they make
+into a powder. This powder is used as an antidote by swallowing a small
+dose--enough to cover the point of a pocket-knife--and also by applying
+some to the bite, after first having cut an opening into the bitten part
+with a pocket-knife. Some people protect themselves against the poison
+of a snake-bite by regularly swallowing some of the poison and
+vaccinating themselves with it. One can even protect one's self in this
+way against the bite of the poisonous file-snake of the Boschveld--a
+snake the shape of a three-cornered file, sometimes from 3 to 4 feet
+long. It is a fact that the person whose body is proof against the
+poison of a snake-bite is never bitten, as he is feared by snakes.
+Formerly I doubted it, but I have myself seen people who have made
+themselves proof against a bite in this way, and I have also heard it
+from people in whom I have the utmost faith.
+
+Alcohol is also a good antidote, provided one takes it immediately and
+in such quantities that it goes to the head. I would recommend everyone
+always to take a small quantity of brandy with him on commando, if
+experience had not taught me that some take even a mosquito-bite as an
+excuse to 'take a drop,' and I am against that on principle.
+
+Often while loading my horse the thought struck me whether the poor
+brute ever had a wish to protest, 'Surely this is becoming too bad!' and
+that reminds me that one must be very careful not to overload. The
+knapsack must not be filled with kaboe mealies (roasted maize) for one's
+self, while the nosebag of the poor horse remains empty.
+
+More than one prisoner of war has bitterly regretted that he did not
+take his horse's power of endurance into greater consideration. Now I
+must take up the thread of my tale.
+
+The following morning the lager would start at three o'clock, and, as
+my horse was in good condition, the owner of the horse that had been
+left behind asked me to fetch it before the lager left. He explained to
+me where I would find it tied to a tree about half an hour's ride from
+the lager, so I started with a friend at about two o'clock at night. On
+the way we came across a mule that had wandered away while grazing,
+ignorant of all the danger he was exposing himself to in the uninhabited
+Boschveld. The creature gave us much trouble by refusing to be caught
+and constantly dodging behind a tree, so we lost a great deal of time.
+On our way back, close to the lager, we heard the whine of the wild-dog,
+the well-known feared wolf. We thought it very interesting to come
+across a wild animal of which we had no fear just then. But when we
+reached the camping-ground of the lager, where only the trolley stood to
+which the wandering mule belonged, we found to our surprise that both
+white men and Kaffirs had given up the search for the mule for fear of
+the wild-dog. They had all congregated round large fires. The wild-dog,
+however, is harmless by himself; like the khakies, his strength lies in
+numbers. We had to leave the sick horse to join the bucks of the
+Boschveld on its recovery, until the horse-sickness came. After a long,
+tiring, but very interesting ride we arrived at the Sabie, where the
+rest of the lager was already encamped. The Sabie is about the size of
+the Krokodil River, and its scenery of woods and valleys formed a sharp
+contrast to the deadly monotony of the Boschveld that lay behind us. We
+had crossed the bare desert and were now in a part of the country
+inhabited by Kaffirs. The following day the lager was removed half an
+hour further on, and there we remained a few days.
+
+At night four of us were persuaded to go eel-catching in a
+crocodile-pool that we had discovered a little further on. We made a
+large fire to entice the eels, and, as we were none of us great lovers
+of angling, we made a splendid bonfire, as there was plenty of dry wood
+to be had.
+
+There was something particularly attractive in these large fires on
+those quiet, dark nights of the wilderness. The glow threw a sombre
+light on the water that gave one a creepy feeling, as if a crocodile
+were on the watch for us in the water, and lions at our back between
+the large trees. What must they have thought of us?
+
+The bank of the river seemed to be about 6 feet high, and not very
+steep. We made the fire closer and closer to what seemed the bank. I saw
+someone lift up a huge branch, walk to the bank with it, and plant his
+left foot firmly on the ground. The reeds gave way beneath him. What
+seemed a firm bank, by the glow of the fire, proved to be a mass of
+reeds and grass, and the poor man fell down a height of 6 feet, his fall
+being hastened by the heavy branch he held. For a moment we stood
+irresolute. To jump after him into a crocodile-pool! But he called for
+help, and we had to act immediately. Fortunately, one acts almost
+instinctively in such cases. One of the others slid down the bank--the
+thought striking him: 'If only there are not two crocodiles!' Landing on
+a horizontal branch, he stretched out his hand to the drowning man,
+someone else took hold of his left hand, and so they were both saved. If
+a crocodile had been in the neighbourhood, he would probably have stood
+on the defensive. Such a queer, two-legged animal who led the attack in
+such a strange but decided way must have roused his respect.
+
+This piece of fun put an end to our eel-fishing. We had caught only one
+eel--and a man.
+
+The following morning there was parade for President Steyn. His speech
+to us was touching and to the point, and showed that he believed in a
+good ending to the war, if the burghers were capable of enduring such
+hardships as at present. Then he also told us in what a hurry he was to
+reach his burghers, as he was afraid that the enemy were doing all in
+their power to make them turn against him. We all liked President Steyn
+very much.
+
+On our journey through the Selatie Goldfields, past the Marietje River
+to Pilgrim's Rest, we crossed the steepest mountain that I have ever
+seen. A double span of oxen was harnessed to each waggon. The oxen were
+lent us for the occasion by the Boers living on the plateau in front of
+us. After every few steps upwards we had to put stones under the wheels
+to prevent the waggons from slipping back. It took our little lager
+nearly all day to reach the plateau. Then we had a most magnificent
+view of the Boschveld that lay behind us. In the distance the Lobombo
+Mountains were visible on the boundary of the Portuguese and Transvaal
+territory. The first rains had fallen on the plateau, so the green grass
+was a refreshing change for our eyes. The horses would be able to graze
+well, and the good feeding would soon make them lose their old coats,
+and then they would be sleek and glossy again.
+
+From the high plateau we descended, over a 'lumpy' veld, with an oasis
+here and there in a hole or valley, or on the top of a hill, to
+Pilgrim's Rest. Some miles before we reached this little town we passed
+beside the water-works that supply a strong stream of water for the
+machinery of the gold-mines. We simply stormed the shops, that were
+still well supplied with provisions, and bought all sorts of luxuries
+and necessaries for our journey. From Pilgrim's Rest we once more
+crossed a steep mountain, along a road that for length and height has
+not its equal. In the neighbourhood of Ohrigstad, a little town that we
+left to our right, I asked a Boer woman whether the fever did not make
+one's life impossible there, and I got a very naif reply: 'No; this
+year the fever was not so bad. We all got ill, but not one of us died.'
+
+The rest of our journey to the north of Lydenburg, over Spekstroom
+River, along Watervalop, over Steenkampsberg to Roossenekal, was very
+tedious. The uninhabited Boschveld was very interesting, and we had
+sufficient provisions then, but the poor, uncivilized Boer inhabitants
+of the Lydenburg district were unable to supply us with necessaries, the
+want of which we were beginning to feel. We could not buy a loaf of
+bread anywhere. And it is anything but pleasant in a time of war to come
+across such lax and unenergetic people as they proved to be. The men
+were nearly always at home, and appeared to be discouraged and unwilling
+to fight. We had all lost our sweet tooth. That one could tell by such
+expressions as: 'Even if you give me sugar:--' But occasionally we got a
+more desirable substitute, when a beehive was discovered in a cleft of a
+rock. Some of our men are particularly clever at discovering a hive. I
+have often seen a man stand gazing up at the sky, walk on a short
+distance, and again stand gazing, and after awhile appear with a bucket
+of honey. By watching the flight of the bees they find out in what
+direction the hive is. A practised eye can see the rising and settling
+of the bees above the hive from a great distance.
+
+
+
+
+X
+
+FROM ROOSSENEKAL TO PIETERSBURG--WITH GENERAL BEYERS TO THE MAGALIES
+MOUNTAINS
+
+
+We went in a very different direction from that of General Ben Viljoen's
+commando, which took the road to Pietersburg through Leydsdorp.
+President Steyn celebrated the anniversary of his birthday at
+Roossenekal, and addressed us in the same spirit as on the former
+occasion at the Sabie.
+
+Roossenekal is famous for its caves, or grottos, in which the Mapochers
+hid themselves so well during the Mapoch War. We made use of the
+opportunity to visit the grottos, of whose formation I should like to
+know more. What appeared on the outside to be an ordinary hill proved a
+most wonderful natural building containing many rooms. The old kraal
+walls and the peach-trees and 'Turkish figs', (prickly-pears), overgrown
+by wild trees, and an occasional earthen vessel, were the remains of the
+Kaffir city. Of course we cut our names into the rocks by way of
+becoming immortal. We could not help speaking with great admiration of
+the wild Kaffir tribe who from such a hiding-place fought for months for
+a life of independence. We had no time to visit the grottos further
+away.
+
+Although our horses were well fed during this time of rest, they
+profited little, on account of the constant cold rains that fell. We
+fortunately still had some tents, that we used only in case of rain. Our
+Commandant was still always in doubt whether to proceed to Pietersburg,
+for we were quite ignorant of the enemy's movements during the last few
+weeks. Later on, when he got the information that the enemy were
+stationed at Pinaars River bridge, and that we could not with safety
+pass Warmbad and Pinaars River, we had to turn off at Kobaltmyn to the
+right to cross Olifants River lower down. We had already passed
+Kobaltmyn in the beginning of July on our journey after General de la
+Rey. The latter part of our journey, along Olifants River, through
+Zebedelsland to Pietersburg, was exhausting for man and horse. Some of
+us often had nothing but a little rice and a small piece of meat for
+several days in succession. There was scarcely any grass for our horses,
+and yet we had to ride hard night and day.
+
+After a tiring journey of fully a month, President Steyn's commando
+arrived at Pietersburg on October 11. Although we had always intended to
+follow President Steyn to De Wet, my brother and I, with Malherbe, now
+accepted an invitation from my uncle, Ignace Mare, to stay awhile on his
+farm at Marabastad. President Steyn left with his commando for
+Nylstroom. Our horses were worn out, and could not follow the commando.
+Most of the men had a spare horse that was still in good condition, and
+although my brother and I had only one horse apiece, we often had to do
+the hardest work.
+
+My aunt and uncle did their best to make our stay a pleasant one, and
+our horses were well fed. Soon General Ben Viljoen's commando arrived at
+Marabastad, and stayed there a few weeks, so that we also experienced
+the discomfort arising from a lager camped on one's farm. The Boer is
+deprived by it of all necessaries, and all sorts and conditions of men
+constantly visit his house. Some of them, the riff-raff of the commando,
+are very unwelcome guests, for they do much mischief intentionally, and
+thereby give the commando a very bad name. The poles to which the wire
+is attached for camping at a farm were yet left undamaged. The burghers
+were still accustomed to get plenty of dry wood in the Boschveld, and
+were not yet so demoralized as to work damage without scruple.
+
+We stayed at my uncle's far longer than we at first intended. My saddle
+had chafed the horse's back so severely that I could not ride it for
+several months. My brother got an attack of malaria, and just as he was
+recovering had a relapse, so that President Steyn was so far in advance
+of us that there was no question of overtaking him.
+
+The commando had already left Marabastad when we started for
+Tweefontein, near Warmbad, on our now strong, sleek horses. There we
+joined Commandant Kemp, of the Krugersdorp commando, under Wyk III., who
+had parted from Ben Viljoen at Marabastad because the latter had on a
+Sunday afternoon during service fired off several cannon-shots for the
+edification of a few fast women.
+
+Malherbe, my brother, and I formed a sort of comradeship under Corporal
+Botman--or, to put it simply, we were 'chums.' At Warmbad we heard many
+interesting things about the khakies, who had stayed there nineteen days
+on their hunt after De Wet. We could not understand why they destroyed
+the bathing-houses, unless it were to deprive our wounded of the chance
+of recovery.
+
+The condition of the people in Zoutpansberg and in Waterberg, where the
+enemy had been, was not very cheerful. Everyone complained that there
+was no sugar to be had, that the meal was getting low, and that soon
+there would be no clothes. Pietersburg was exhausted by the commandos,
+and the courage of the inhabitants was nearly at an ebb. They would not
+yet make the sacrifice that would part them from their families. The
+enemy had not yet driven them to despair by the destruction of their
+fields and goods.
+
+Every sensible person knew that the Republics would lose in the
+long-run in a guerilla war unless something unforeseen happened. At the
+time that we fled from Pretoria my mother said she would have hope as
+long as her 'gorillas' remained in the veld. Even if we clung to a
+straw, the possibility always remained that things might take a
+favourable turn as long as a fair number of burghers remained in the
+veld.
+
+The burghers from the different districts now in Waterberg were earnest
+and full of courage. Noticeable changes for the better had been made.
+Beyers, a man in whom the men had the utmost faith, was made
+Assistant-Commandant-General, and was to lead a commando of 1,500
+horsemen from Waterberg, Zoutpansberg, Krugersdorp, etc., to the
+Hoogeveld. The discipline was much stricter. Cooper and Fanie Grobler,
+who had been accused of high treason, promised to keep a sharper
+look-out for spies and traitors. And we still always hoped for an
+eventual rebellion in Cape Colony. That hope was our life-buoy on which
+we kept our eyes fixed. We felt that there our safety lay, and the
+enthusiasm of the commando was heightened by the desire to celebrate
+Paardekraal Day in Krugersdorp on December 15. As a sailor longs for the
+sea, so we longed for a meeting with the khakies when we left for the
+Magalies Mountains in the beginning of December. Our commando was light
+and mobile, with provisions for a short time only. Such heavy cannon as
+the Long Toms were of no use to us now. Hence-forward we were to live on
+the produce of the surrounding country, as there was no basis from which
+we were to operate. Besides this, the khakies very kindly made over some
+of their provisions, arms, and ammunition to us in a skirmish or battle,
+so that afterwards we had more Lee-Metfords than Mausers in our
+possession.
+
+At Krokodil River I had the privilege of seeing how a honey-bird takes a
+human being to a bees' nest. As we were lying under a tree, a honey-bird
+settled close to us. Corporal Botman followed it as it flew chirping
+from tree to tree, and called to it that he was following, until the
+bird stopped at the hive. The grateful finder always rewards the bird
+with a piece of honeycomb that he puts aside for it. But I have never
+been able to discover whether the bird or the insects eat the honey. I
+know that the 'bug-birds,' that are always seen on or near cattle, do
+not feed on the bugs with which the cattle are covered, but on the
+locusts that fly about the herd. Last week, when our guards took us for
+a walk outside the fort, I noticed that a kind of sparrow in India has
+the same trick of catching the locusts that are driven on ahead by the
+cattle.
+
+I shall not try to give a description of the works of the machinery that
+moved mechanically to the Magalies Mountains, for I should have to guess
+at the particulars in this historical little tale. Mechanical I call the
+journey, for there were days and nights in which we were numbed, body
+and soul, exhausted by hunger and thirst and want of sleep.
+
+When we were at Bethany, a convoy of the enemy was seen moving in the
+direction of Commandonek. When it noticed our guard, it dragged its
+curved body with great zeal through the pass. I think the khakies also
+must have been bored to death on those long, fruitless journeys. We left
+Bethany towards evening, and reached the Magalies Mountains the
+following morning after a tiring journey in the night past Sterkstroom,
+through the Kromriverskloof to the foot of Onuapadnek, or
+Boschfonteinnek. (I learnt the names from the inhabitants.) In the kloof
+we passed the burnt remains of the convoy that was taken by Commandant
+Boshoff--who joined De la Rey after having taken Steyn to his
+destination--and his brave little troop of burghers. They were obliged
+to abandon the convoy, however, on the arrival of reinforcements for the
+enemy. A sickening stench came from the corpses that they had left
+unburied in their flight.
+
+We rested a few hours at the top of the steep nek. On descending on the
+other side we came, to our mutual surprise, upon De la Key's lager at
+the foot of the mountain on Barnard's farm.
+
+
+
+
+XI
+
+BATTLE OF NOOITGEDACHT
+
+
+We were busy all evening baking vet-koek (a kind of scone fried in
+lard), as we had received the order to be ready to leave the following
+morning at one o'clock, and to take provisions sufficient for two
+days. Although our officers were beginning to see the advisability of
+keeping their plans secret, we were able to guess that we were going
+to attack General Clements' camp, an hour's ride further east at
+Nooitgedacht--particularly as the chances of success, in case of an
+eventual attack, were being discussed by some of the officers. The
+general opinion was that Clements' force was 5,000 strong.
+
+We left quite three-quarters of an hour later than the fixed time in the
+early morning of December 13, 1900, and recrossed the steep, narrow
+neck, took a way to our right in the Kromriverskloof, making a sharp
+turn to Elandskrans, where a strong outpost had been placed by the enemy
+on the Magalies Mountains.
+
+That was the crust through which we had to bite to get at the dainties
+of the booty. It cannot be denied that victory and booty, in our
+impoverished circumstances, were very close together in our thoughts.
+The enemy's camp lay at the foot of the long, high cliff that forms a
+precipice on that side of the mountain, while the slope of the mountain
+on our side was not steep, and there were a great many footholds and
+boulders. The artillery had been left in the neck of the pass to protect
+the lagers. Beyers, with some Zoutpansbergers, turned away from us to
+the right to reach Elandskrans along the mountain ridge. It appeared,
+therefore, that Beyers and Kemp were going to make the attack from the
+north, with 1,000 men, and that Kemp had the centre and the left wing.
+We were again too late. The sun had risen when we began the attack.
+Corporal Botman was ordered by Kemp to surround the extreme right of
+the enemy's right wing, with thirty men.
+
+We had to storm the left to enclose the enemy in the half-circle. We
+were exposed to a rain of bullets, and had to storm through ravines and
+reefs, sometimes racing our horses, then leading them, and making use of
+every cover. General Beyers, with his splendid sharp-shooters, was
+already in hot action with the right wing, and Commandant Kemp in the
+centre had forced his way close to the enemy. We tied our horses
+together behind a reef, left them in charge of a few men, and advanced,
+spreading ourselves in groups of three, four and five. A moment of
+extreme anxiety followed.
+
+Not to expose ourselves unnecessarily, we had to peep from behind the
+rocks, shoot the course clear, and run to the next cover. Malherbe and I
+stayed as close as possible to our cool, collected, brave corporal, and
+we had to gasp for breath sometimes if trying to keep up to him. The
+others forced their way upwards more to the left, and so formed the
+furthest left point of the half-moon.
+
+While the three of us were pushing our way from position to position
+into the neighbourhood of the few khakies who already dared not raise
+their heads from behind the rocks, I noticed, some 500 paces to our
+front, a number of khakies moving in our direction. I warned Malherbe to
+keep up his courage, as the enemy were getting reinforcements. A moment
+later, while our corporal had again moved onwards, I noticed several
+khakies on a stone ridge some 150 paces in front of us. It appeared that
+they were driven on by part of the centre and right wing, for just then
+two men made their appearance, whom I at once recognised as Boers from
+the colour of their clothes and the quick way in which they aimed at me.
+I stooped quick as a hare, and immediately rose again. The enemy now
+surrendered, I believe to the number of two or three hundred of the
+Northumberland Fusiliers, called the 'Fighting Fifth' on account of
+their courage and bravery. We also took on the mountain a heliograph
+that the enemy had broken.
+
+The khakies acknowledged that we had taken the position with the
+greatest possible speed. We were in the majority. But it must not be
+forgotten that we were the attacking party and had to expose ourselves,
+and also that, although the battle on the mountain extended over a long
+line, our right wing had still to reckon with the reinforcements that
+were sent up through a narrow kloof from the camp. It was a repetition
+of Selikatsnek. The khakies had the good positions, and we had good
+cover behind the rocks on the mountain slope. In such a case he is no
+match for us.
+
+We went on a few hundred paces over pretty level ground, and then looked
+down upon the camp at the foot of the mountain, which consisted of
+several hundreds of tents and many waggons. Some of these waggons were
+inspanned, some were already retreating, but most of them were not yet
+inspanned. The camp lay on the grounds and by the fields of a deserted
+farm.
+
+Afterwards I heard that Commandant Badenhorst, of Pretoria (who had
+attacked the enemy before our arrival, at the foot of the mountain, and
+so suffered the greatest loss), was already retreating, but, hearing the
+fighting on the mountain, had renewed his attack.
+
+The enemy could not stand the fire that we opened upon them, and had to
+retreat from the camp in the direction of Commandonek. The inevitable
+consequence was that the troops on the west, opposite De la Rey, had to
+retreat hurriedly so as not to be cut off by the wedge that was forcing
+its way along the mountains into the camp. They were far beyond reach of
+our bullets. Where De la Rey's cannon were, and why they did not make
+themselves heard, I do not know. Neither do I know why General Smuts did
+not cut off the retreat of the enemy to the south-east. They had placed
+a few cannon to our left in the valley, and bombarded us fiercely on the
+mountain without much result. The balls of a small Maxim flew past us
+with a hissing sound and hindered us in our aim.
+
+The waggons that were inspanned fled in the direction of Commandonek,
+and halted in the valley at a respectful distance from us. Although the
+camp appeared to be almost deserted, a continual firing was heard below
+us. I could not make out from where it came until I suddenly discovered
+several small troops of horsemen who galloped at intervals from behind a
+wall in the shade of some trees. They were in all probability left
+there as cover for the waggons. The few shots we fired at them missed
+their aim. We saw De la Rey's burghers capture a large herd of cattle.
+
+While Malherbe and I were peering from behind our hurriedly erected
+entrenchment, and occasionally firing a few shots, I discovered four or
+five brave khakies busy dragging along an ammunition waggon, or a gun;
+from such a distance we could not distinguish which. We fired at them
+with a sight of 800 paces, but did not hit them, as the horizontal
+distance to the camp was not more than 400 paces, and we should have
+used a sight of 600 paces, but the height of the mountain was very
+misleading. Immediately afterwards a span of mules came in the direction
+of the supposed gun, so Malherbe and I retreated as fast as we could, to
+find a better cover more to the left. It is strange how in a battle one
+always has an idea that all the threatened danger is aimed specially at
+one's self.
+
+We had to be on the look-out not to fire at our own people, some of whom
+were already in the camp. My brother, Malherbe, and I went to the narrow
+kloof that I have already mentioned, after a fruitless search for our
+horses, which had meanwhile been taken to the entrance of the kloof, and
+I heard from my brother that our brave General had been wounded in the
+leg by a shell. During the search for our horses we had noticed a long
+dust-cloud at the end of Kromriverskloof, near Buffelspoort, moving from
+Rustenburg in the direction of Commandonek--in all probability
+reinforcements for the enemy, arriving too late.
+
+The Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers, who were most undisciplined, had
+descended through the kloof in quest of booty. But the Krugersdorpers,
+formerly notorious for their rough behaviour, were now the most orderly,
+and did not descend before all the men were collected. The kloof was
+strewn with bodies of khakies, who were sent up as reinforcement and
+pitilessly shot down by the burghers. The little stream of water was red
+with blood, so that we could not even quench our thirst. Some of the
+khakies had fallen from the high cliffs, where they had to lie
+unburied--like the soldiers on Amajuba in 1881.
+
+We led our horses to the opening of the kloof, and then galloped into
+camp under the thundering noise of the shells that the enemy were
+firing at us from the distance. There was no control possible among the
+burghers. Each one loaded his horse with whatever he could lay his hands
+on, and there was no thought of following up the retreating enemy. They
+did not leave us undisturbed in our glory, but aimed lyddite at us,
+which had the desired effect, that we in our disorder did not storm the
+front positions, but retreated in the direction of our camp, a quarter
+of a mile in among the trees. There Veld-Kornet Klaassen ordered his men
+to off-saddle and give the horses a rest. Meanwhile the camp was burnt,
+flames arose in all directions, and thousands of cartridges exploded.
+
+After we had watered our horses in a neighbouring spruit we lay down to
+rest. But ere long General De la Rey came galloping into our midst with
+a lash in his hand, calling to us whether we were not ashamed to lie
+there doing nothing, instead of following up our advantage now that we
+had the chance, when otherwise the enemy would ill-treat our women and
+children and burn down our homes. One of our corporals rather
+impertinently informed De la Rey that he served under another General,
+and would obey no orders but his. De la Rey thereupon rode up to him and
+gave him a heavy cut with his lash. I went up to the General, and told
+him that we were quite willing to fight, and had only off-saddled for a
+rest by order of our Field-Cornet. In his rage he lifted his lash, but,
+recognising me, lowered it again. If I had aimed at getting a cut from
+him, I might have called out like the Dutch farmers, who got a box on
+the ear from Peter the Great for pressing too closely upon him while he
+was building ships at Zaandam: 'I have had one too! I have had one too!'
+We then rode with the General to the burnt camp. The enemy had not found
+the game worth the candle, and had saved their shell for a more
+favourable occasion.
+
+One can imagine De la Rey's indignation when he saw that waggons,
+provisions, and ammunition were nearly all burnt. He pointed out to us
+how ammunition and guns were required on every side. General Beyers,
+whom we met there, excused himself by explaining that he had ordered
+only those things to be burnt that we did not require. We then rode to
+the other positions on the opposite side of the camp, but the enemy were
+in full flight, followed by an occasional burgher.
+
+I do not consider myself able to criticise the manner in which our
+officers organized this battle. But it was easy to see that a great
+mistake had been made. We had much to be thankful for, but the result
+might have been more advantageous to us. The whole camp with all its
+cannon should have been taken with a smaller loss than eighty men killed
+and wounded.
+
+I do not know the number of the enemy's killed and wounded. If our first
+attack had been made unanimously and unexpectedly, we could easily have
+crushed the enemy. The prisoners, as usual, pretended that they knew all
+about our plans, but why, then, were their reinforcements too late, or,
+rather, why did they never arrive? When General De la Rey organizes an
+attack, and his instructions are well carried out, the burghers have so
+much confidence in him, and like him so well, in spite of, or perhaps
+because of his violent temper, that they never have any doubt as to his
+ultimate success.
+
+The prisoners were released. In my presence they were always well
+treated, and I have seen many khaki prisoners who have never on any
+occasion been ill-treated.
+
+
+
+
+XII
+
+PAARDEKRAAL DAY--BATTLE IN THE MOAT--ATTACK ON KAALFONTEIN STATION
+
+From Onuapadnek our lagers went to the farm Rietfontein, near
+Witwatersrandjes, where we celebrated Paardekraal Day on December
+16--under sad circumstances, alas!
+
+Ds. Kriel, who constantly accompanied us in the most self-denying
+manner, in all our battles and on all our long journeys, led us in
+prayer that day. Halfway up the kopje, which we climbed in most solemn
+earnest, he offered up a prayer to God, and then impressed upon us the
+importance of the occasion. On the top of the kopje he held a short
+service. It reminded me of that which my own father held for the
+assembled burghers at Paardekraal in 1880. How true and faithful he was
+in his position as preacher to the fighting men, and how well he served
+his adopted country!
+
+After General De la Rey, Smuts, Kemp, and Mr. Naude had all addressed
+us, Ds. Kriel read out a document in which was expressed, in a few
+words, the purpose each one of us should attach to his contribution of a
+stone towards the monument to be erected there. He exhorted the burghers
+not to add a stone to the pile unless they fully understood and were in
+earnest about its meaning. So the old covenant was renewed in a
+different place under different circumstances and in a different manner
+from the Paardekraal Day of former years, and when the burghers
+descended from the kopje they were strengthened by the renewing of an
+ancient pledge in their resolution to fight to the last for their
+country and their people.
+
+The place where the monument was erected was called Ebenhaezer.
+
+Between the Magalies Mountains and the Witwatersranden stretches a long
+valley called the Moat. In the centre runs a gray ridge or rand,
+parallel to the mountains, and rising into kopjes to the east, near
+Hekpoort. Thither our commando moved a few days later to meet the
+enemy, who were approaching from Commandonek, most probably with
+revengeful intentions. The Moat was well provided with corn, and asked
+for our protection. We stayed over a day on the gray ridge. When the
+enemy advanced towards us on the day following, General De la Rey had
+taken up his position near Nooitgedacht, and so formed the left wing.
+Commandant Kemp, with his men, was at the south on the foot of the
+ridge, and Veld-Kornet van Tender, with a small troop of
+Zoutpansbergers, was on the first kopje, while General Beyers, with the
+Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers held the right wing to the west of
+Hekpoort, in Witwatersrand. The whole of that forenoon the enemy were
+ready to attack us, and we waited calmly. Towards afternoon their left
+wing moved towards the first kopje, beyond the reach of the
+Zoutpansbergers, who were on the Witwatersranden near Hekpoort. They
+began firing at the position of Veld-Kornet Van Tonder, and when he fell
+mortally wounded his Zoutpansbergers were obliged to retire from the
+kopje.
+
+Our Veld-Kornet, Kruger, a fine, brave fellow, then led twenty-five of
+our men towards Hekpoort, to try and stop the enemy in their forward
+movement. As Malherbe, my brother, and I were among the twenty-five, I
+cannot tell what happened to De la Rey on the other side of the gray
+ridge. We pressed too far forward, and soon had to retreat some
+distance. Our Veld-Kornet stayed behind with a few of us, on a small
+rise, while our horses were taken some 300 paces further back, and the
+rest of our little troop rode in the direction of Hekpoort. The enemy
+already occupied the first kopje, and were firing at us from a distance.
+We quickly made an entrenchment of stones and lay waiting. But our
+people were retreating from the other kopjes, and we had to get to our
+horses as quickly as possible. A few cowardly burghers on the ridge took
+us for khakies and fired at us. Then I experienced the difference
+between the aim of Boer and khaki. The latter's bullets always flew far
+above our heads, but the former's fell terribly close to us.
+
+As yet we had retired in good order, but soon we fled in a panic. The
+enemy had come from Krugersdorp in very large numbers, and already
+occupied the high Witwatersranden behind us.
+
+Whoever has an incapable horse had better hide in a ditch or behind a
+wall along with the poor, frightened women. More than once I have seen
+poor frightened women holding their crying children by the hand, and
+seeking a hiding-place near their houses during a battle. It is indeed a
+tragic sight!--we men, with our weapons in our hands, not able to defend
+them at such a time. And then a great feeling of shame came upon us.
+These same women had only the day before called down God's blessing upon
+us, and now they cried to us to hurry, or we would be surrounded.
+
+We rode at a flying gallop for fully half an hour--along the Magalies
+Mountains, between the Witwatersranden and the many smaller banks, while
+to the left the enemy were descending and firing at us. The Waterbergers
+and Zoutpansbergers, who learnt later than we did that the enemy were
+surrounding us, would all have been taken prisoners had they not forced
+their way bravely through thick and thin. As far as we can tell, our
+loss was, fortunately, only one killed.
+
+At the Manharen, a peculiar kind of kopje, we halted, but had to
+retreat further towards evening.
+
+Beyers' commando moved in the direction of Gatsrand, but had to turn to
+Zwartruggens, near Rustenburg, when it reached the farm Modderfontein,
+where we celebrated Christmas. The enemy was constantly at our heels,
+and made things hot for us; we often had to hurry most inconveniently
+not to be surrounded or cut off. We got a few days' rest on the farm
+Vlakhoek. We were camped near a small stream, and went from there to the
+different farms in search of the first fruit of the season.
+
+On New Year's Eve General Beyers' commando moved on the wide hard
+Krugersdorp road. The bullock waggon lager had been left behind, as it
+prevented us from moving as quickly as was sometimes necessary. The
+burghers still longed to attack Krugersdorp, and on New Year's Eve, as
+we moved fast in the direction of the town, our hearts were cheered by
+the thought of Jameson's failure, when five years ago he passed along
+the same road in his notorious Raid. We all hoped to add an immortal
+page to the annals of our history on the following New Year's Day. But
+we were sadly disappointed in our expectations. The Jameson Raid was not
+avenged, and we celebrated New Year's Day calmly and peacefully at
+Cyferbult, on Pretorius' farm, with milie-pap (maize meal porridge) and
+beef and--green fruit!
+
+Whenever we came to a farm we ate as much green fruit as possible by way
+of a change in our diet. On other occasions it would have been very bad
+for us, but now it seemed to have a very wholesome effect. As we moved
+on past Zwartkop over the Krokodil River in the direction of the
+railway, we realized that there was no chance of attacking Krugersdorp
+for the present, for General Beyers had apparently changed his plans. We
+were quite sure that it had originally been his intention, and some of
+our officers talked of the attack on the town as if it were an open
+secret.
+
+Our capable Veld-Kornet, Kruger, had remained behind at Zwartkop to get
+the burghers of Wyk III. Krugersdorp from out of their hiding-places, as
+the Generals wanted to concentrate all the small bands for some great
+undertaking. We joined Wyk I. Krugersdorp under Veld-Kornet Klaassen.
+
+Near Hekpoort, as we were camped at Dwarsvlei, we attacked a convoy of
+the enemy in the valley, and very nearly captured it before it was
+reinforced. I was not present, so cannot give any account of the battle.
+After a sharp trek of more than one night, we crossed the rails between
+Kaalfontein and Zuurfontein Stations, just before sunrise one morning
+towards the middle of January. We captured a few guards who seemed to
+know nothing of our movements. Why General Beyers did not surprise one
+or both stations that morning early is still a mystery to us, as our
+movements were remarkably quick. It could not have been because he
+thought us too tired, for some twenty minutes further on, while we were
+resting on a farm, he ordered part of our lager to turn to the left and
+attack Kaalfontein Station.
+
+Our corporal was unwilling to work us and our horses to death, so he
+first got breakfast ready. But when our cannon began to roar and
+Corporal Botman, who still limped from a wound, rode off without a word
+in his own peculiar way, our conscience began to trouble us, and several
+of our men followed him. My brother, whose horse's back was chafed,
+remained in the lager with the rest of the burghers.
+
+When we reached our guns, we immediately saw that the station could be
+taken only at the cost of many lives--more than the success would be
+worth. Our guns had not the desired effect, and we should have had to
+charge across an open space without any cover. The enemy had no guns.
+They say our left wing very nearly succeeded in taking a small fort near
+the station, but I cannot give any particulars, for our Veld-Kornet rode
+with a small troop of burghers to the right of the station, and took
+another small fort which the enemy had abandoned because it was too far
+away from the station. What might have been expected happened. Towards
+afternoon an armoured train came from Pretoria, and reinforcements
+arrived from Johannesburg and scattered our left wing over the valley. I
+happened to be with a few others on the outmost point of the right wing
+of attack--or, rather, since the scene was changed, of the left wing of
+flight. And as we were retreating at our ease an old man galloped
+towards us and pointed out that we were retreating in the wrong
+direction, as the enemy had captured our whole lager. He had never in
+his life seen so many khakies. They seemed to be on all sides of us. The
+only outlet for us was in the direction of Heidelberg. I asked him,
+'Uncle, are you sure that our lager is in the hands of the khakies?' to
+which he answered, 'Nephew, I saw with my own eyes how they rode up to
+the waggons and made all our people "hands up!"' and he continued to
+give us a minute description of the occurrence.
+
+If we had been greenhorns, we would have blindly followed the startled
+old man right through the stream of retreating burghers and exploding
+15-pounders. But, fortunately, the war had taught us, and we moved on
+_with_ the stream, but a little more to the left, and, I cannot deny it,
+with a feeling of great anxiety as to what was to become of us if the
+old man had indeed told the truth.
+
+Fortunately, it appeared that fright had made the old man believe his
+own imagination, and the lager was quite safe. My brother told me that
+the slight attack made upon them by the enemy was easily beaten off.
+
+The opinion of the majority was that we should have left Kaalfontein
+Station alone. We were thoroughly exhausted by our rapid journeys,
+particularly by the journey of the preceding night, and besides that the
+burghers were unwilling to make an attack of which they did not see the
+advantage. We had several killed and wounded.
+
+The consequence was that we had to trek that night in a way that none of
+us will ever forget, to get beyond the reach of the enemy. One cannot
+imagine how terrible it is to sit for hours on horseback, dead tired and
+overcome by sleep. We did not even guide our horses; they simply jogged
+along mechanically, too tired even to object to ill-treatment. Our hands
+rested on the bows of the saddles, and as we sat leaning forwards,
+apparently lost in thought, but in reality suffering tortures from the
+effort to keep awake, we forced ourselves to look up and about us, but
+our eyes half closed in the effort, and everything about us took a
+strange shape, and the sky became chaos; with a nod we half awoke, only
+to dream again a second later that we were falling from our horses.
+
+Not a word was spoken, for everyone was dozing. Whenever we had to wait
+for our guns or waggons, we simply flung ourselves on the grass with
+one arm through our bridles, and soon we were unconscious of the pulling
+and tugging of the horse, and if the order to mount woke us up, the
+tugging had ceased, and our horses were calmly grazing some distance
+from us. Then we lifted our bodies, loaded with cartridges and guns,
+into the saddle at the risk of toppling over on the other side, like a
+lizzard sliding down a bank, and rode on in silence, drowsily and
+top-heavy.
+
+
+
+
+XIII
+
+COMMANDO SUFFERINGS
+
+
+The horsemen rode generally two by two, partly in front of the waggons
+as advance-guard, and behind as rear-guard, each corporal with his men
+in his place by his Veld-Kornet. The Krugersdorpers were no longer
+allowed to leave their places before they had permission from their
+corporal. Even those burghers who were most disorderly in the beginning
+now saw the necessity of discipline, and were obedient to the commands
+of their officers.
+
+It was a mixed crew of old and young. But the majority were still in the
+prime of life, and proof against the privations of guerilla life. The
+old men among us were all men whose powerful constitutions were yet
+unbroken. It was praiseworthy of them that in their old age they were
+willing to suffer the difficulties and dangers of a wandering life for
+their country's sake, for although their constitutions were strong, they
+were susceptible to cold and damp, the effects of which they could not
+shake off. There were also many brave little boys, who were thus early
+initiated into the privations of commando life; but they shared all
+bravely, in a careless spirit of adventure.
+
+Here and there were some Uitlanders who had remained faithful to us. All
+the others had gradually disappeared, either because they were taken
+prisoners, or killed through their somewhat foolhardy courage, or
+because they had left the country in disappointment. The townspeople
+were by no means superior to the farmers. There were traitors and
+'hands-uppers' among them as well. We have been bitterly disappointed in
+people of all classes, but particularly in the so-called 'gentlemen.'
+
+Our condition and appearance were indeed striking. During the heat of
+the day, when the dust lay thickly about us, we sat in our ragged
+clothes, with shaggy, uncombed beards, on our poor, hardly-treated
+ponies, meekly staring in front of us, seemingly indifferent to the
+moral hurt that we were suffering and the physical pain that we felt in
+all our limbs after a long, tiring ride. At the start of one of our
+journeys an animated conversation sometimes helped to pass the time, but
+it soon flagged, leaving us staring in front of us in the usual
+dispirited, dull way. Our talk became daily more prosaic and
+superficial. We had not the energy to express our deepest sentiments,
+and things which were formerly pleasant were strange to us now. We had
+no spur to enliven our thoughts in our monotonous life. To the careless
+there was nothing startling in this moral numbness, but the more
+sensitive among us grieved over it, and were humiliated by the
+shallowness that had come into our lives.
+
+The small necessaries of our material existence had become essential to
+our happiness. If we lost a knife, or if a pot or kettle broke, or a mug
+was stolen from us, we were depressed for days, as if a heavy blow had
+fallen upon us. It was not easy to fight against that bitter feeling of
+depression. Our only safety lay in the fact that we were conscious of
+the demoralizing effect of these small disappointments of commando life,
+for to know one's self is always the first step towards conversion.
+
+Some qualities of our highest nature were systematically suppressed. We
+prided ourselves on our fierce hatred of the enemy, and considered it a
+mark of patriotism, and we rejoiced when he fell beneath our bullets or
+when the plague broke out. We even wished that a great European war
+might begin, if only we might keep our country, and as a consequence of
+our righteous patriotism an inclination to cruelty became one of the
+predominant traits in the character of the burghers.
+
+The commando life tended to make many of us melancholy. Wherever we came
+the thought was forced upon us that our beloved country was deeply
+injured, morally and materially. We ourselves saw everywhere homes and
+fields destroyed, women and children taken away by force, and cattle
+stolen; and rumours told of the most terrible outrages committed upon
+helpless women and children. If it were not that one becomes hardened to
+all outward impressions, our commando life would have been pitiful
+indeed. So we became hardened to almost all these things, but the
+thought of the ill-treatment of those dear to us, on whose happiness our
+own happiness depends, was constantly with us, and to that we did not
+become hardened.
+
+It is impossible to enter into the sufferings of the married men. Much
+was suffered in silence. Some men got messages from their wives
+imprisoned in refugee camps, bidding them surrender for the sake of
+their wives, since fighting was of no avail and the country was already
+lost. Who shall blame the man who rides away with an anxious heart to
+his wife and children, no matter what the consequences may be to
+himself? Another woman, with a different disposition and a different
+heart, sends word secretly to her husband that life in the prison camp
+is endurable, and that he must fight to the end. Then he stays, and
+proves himself worthy of the courage of his wife.
+
+Some men gave the impression that they were indifferent to the suffering
+of wife and child. These were the scum of our people, who in time of
+peace were not of much importance, but were necessary for our fight. But
+the majority, by far the greater majority, were men who, even in the
+most troubled times, were faithful to the comrades with whom they began
+this struggle, the struggle for our independence.
+
+Whenever we came to a 'uitspanplek' (a place where there is water to be
+found for the horses), some of us had to seek hurriedly for wood to make
+the fire, others to fetch water, and others to help in various ways. It
+was a regular struggle for existence. Those who came first got the least
+disagreeable work. Wood was scarce on the Hoogeveld where we happened to
+be, and the water was muddied by the first water-carriers. When the sun
+was very warm we made a shelter with our guns and our blankets. Our
+meals were simple. They consisted of meat and 'mealie-pap' morning,
+noon, and night, often for weeks without salt. We made coffee of burnt
+grain ground in a coffee-mill. During the war we learnt to drink all
+sorts of coffee--of wheat, oats, barley, sweet potatoes, maize, and even
+of peaches. We became so accustomed to a simple mode of life that our
+wants were few indeed. Even sugar we no longer missed. And we remained
+healthy and strong.
+
+We lay in small groups round the fires, leaning against our saddles. Our
+moods were brighter after our tired bodies had had the needful
+refreshment and rest. The groups were often picturesque, some of us
+lying at our ease with soiled books in hands, others grouped round the
+fire, every now and again adding wood to the flames, and others, again,
+picking mites out of the biltong with a pocket-knife.
+
+A shower had not much effect upon us. We were accustomed to letting our
+clothes dry on our bodies. Nature is very kind to people who are day and
+night in the open air. If the sun did not shine soon after a shower, we
+made a very deplorable appearance in our dripping clothes. But we never
+grumbled. We were generally cheerful, unless we were exhausted from
+fatigue.
+
+We suffered most on those long nights when, for some reason or other, we
+could not sleep, for many of the burghers were troubled with fears for
+their dear ones. Often, after a long ride, we were too tired to prepare
+a meal, but simply flung ourselves against our saddles and slept before
+we had time to let our thoughts wander. But if the enemy were not at our
+heels, we often passed the long nights in sleeplessness, gazing up at
+the stars with the most bitter feelings in our hearts. No wonder that
+many a burgher grew gray. We were often kept awake by the tethered
+horses stumbling among the groups. Sometimes a man would jump up and
+strike at them till all the others awoke, too, and then there was great
+hilarity in the quiet of the night.
+
+Sometimes a constant rain cast a shadow over the sunny Hoogeveld and
+made our lives sombre and almost unbearable. Then our tattered garments
+could not dry on our bodies, and everything about us was wet and dirty.
+Even in dry weather fuel was almost unattainable, for the treeless
+Hoogeveld had been almost exhausted by the many large commandos which
+had visited the 'uitspan' places. In wet weather it was almost an
+impossibility to make a fire.
+
+Whoever had an ailment passed unpleasant nights then; each night meant a
+nail in his coffin. Even the constant rain the burghers bore cheerfully,
+and many a joke was passed along during an interval in the downpour. But
+in the morning, as we dragged our weary limbs out of our mud-baths,
+shivering from cold, we did not venture to put the conventional
+question, 'Did you sleep well?' to each other.
+
+The spirit among the burghers was very different from what it had been.
+No swearing was heard, and quarrelling was exceptional. Thefts, too,
+were seldom committed. We called ourselves 'sifted'; traitors and
+thieves had gone over to the stronger party. I do not believe that any
+European army would have kept its moral tone so high under such
+demoralizing circumstances as did that small army of Boers with the help
+of their religion. Whereas in time of peace there was much difference in
+churches, especially in the Transvaal (although no difference in
+belief), now, during the war, the unity of belief in one Bible had
+become the means of raising the moral tone of the burghers.
+
+During the last few months a plague had come amongst us that we had
+heard much about, and now caused us much trouble--a plague of lice. It
+is not an edifying subject, but anyone can understand how the itching
+caused many a sleepless night. We were not to blame. When we no longer
+were able to change our clothes, we could not guard against the vermin
+that had become a plague among the huge wandering armies of the enemy.
+Although we boiled our clothes, to our horror the nits appeared again.
+
+
+
+
+XIV
+
+BATTLE OF BOESMANSKOP--FLIGHT OF WOMEN
+
+
+Fortunately, the enemy gave us a week's rest on the farm of Landdrost
+Schotte. During that time Veld-Kornet Meyer, with his small troop of
+Germans, blew up the electric factory at Brakpan.
+
+Then we stayed a few days on Mr. Brown's farm, where a great many little
+commandos congregated that were camped on the banks of the river. Our
+horses became quite sleek again from the abundance of mealies they got
+there. On that farm we first used for fuel the poles that fenced in the
+farm. I distinctly remember how, after we had received the order from
+Commandant Kemp, we waited until after dark before pulling up the poles,
+and how grieved we were at the necessity for doing it. Since that time
+we have got over such scruples. Even if there were wood to be had on an
+outspan place, there was always a race to procure the best poles. Of
+course, when there was abundance of wood, the pulling up of poles was
+strictly prohibited.
+
+At that time I made the acquaintance of a nephew of mine, Paul Mare, a
+boy of fourteen, with a noble countenance, who, like so many others of
+the same age, rode about with gun and bandolier, and was full of
+courage. When the enemy approached his mother's house he prepared for
+flight, but she took it for a joke. When she noticed that he was in
+earnest, she forbade him to go, as his father had been killed already,
+and he would in all probability be killed too. He merely answered,
+'Because they have shot my father, I mean to shoot them now,' and rode
+away.
+
+We did not like remaining long in one place doing nothing. We always
+became impatient, and wished to know when we could move on. But the
+Commandant always answered that he could not tell. And the more sensible
+of us thought, 'It depends on khaki.' This was really the case now. On
+the evening of January 28 we got the order to be in readiness. While
+General Beyers, with 400 or 500 men, passed to the rear of the enemy to
+destroy the Boksburg mines, our commando of horsemen moved rapidly in
+the direction of Boesmanskop in the Heidelberg district, to cut off the
+enemy who were pushing on to our part of the Hoogeveld. We arrived at
+Boesmanskop the following morning.
+
+The parts of the country that we now passed through had not yet been
+destroyed by the enemy, but everywhere else the houses and farms were
+burnt and ruined in the most barbarous way. We were very anxious,
+therefore, to cut off the enemy's advance. They were camped to the
+north-west of Boesmanskop. A strong Boer guard occupied this kopje--the,
+only one in the neighbourhood; for the rest, the surroundings were the
+ordinary Hoogeveld with its mounds. We pushed up in a long line over a
+'bult' that ran north-west of Boesmanskop. Our guns--only a few, as most
+had been sent away to be repaired--stood on top of this mound without
+any cover. Lieutenant Odendaal, a very brave gunner, did not like
+kopjes, but always placed his cannon on a mound, as the enemy's guns
+always fired too short or too long on account of the misleading
+distances. They did so in this instance, and the bombs flew far beyond
+us. Corporal Botman ordered me to stay with the horses at the foot of
+the 'bult,' while the burghers crept on to the top a few hundred paces
+further, expecting eventually to charge the enemy. Suddenly I heard,
+twice over, a noise like that of a train in the distance. My brother
+told me afterwards how he had seen a detachment of the enemy storming
+Boesmanskop, and how the burghers waited until they were close by, and
+then beat them back completely with a twice-repeated salvo.
+
+For some time the guns of the enemy ceased firing, because, as I heard
+later on, Lieutenant Odendaal had shot down the gunners. When they made
+themselves heard again, they were more accurate in their aim; I most
+narrowly escaped the bombs. Four or five thundered around me in quick
+succession, as I fell and stooped and grasped the bridles of the rearing
+horses. Some of the horses pulled the bridles out of my hands and raced
+down the valley.
+
+But the left wing of the enemy was surrounding us, and, like a swarm of
+birds that rise on the wing, the burghers fled back in among the
+tethered and the straying horses, and retreated as fast as they could.
+The enemy now bombarded Boesmanskop, so that the retreating burghers in
+the valley had a bad time of it with the bombs flying over their heads.
+
+Many waggons of Boer families, fleeing for their lives, were pushing
+along the sides of the long mounds, and the enemy's bombs burst in their
+midst more than once--perhaps accidentally, perhaps because they knew
+that 'the Boer nation must be swept off the face of the earth.'
+
+The women seemed to be in a panic. From all sides families came in carts
+and waggons--long rows of vehicles filled with poor, terror-stricken
+women and children; large herds of cattle were driven along by the
+Kaffir servants, but many of them fell into the enemy's hands. The
+burghers did their best to make a stand in order to give the waggons a
+good start, but retreated in good order when they saw no chance of
+checking the enemy's forward movement. Fortunately, a heavy shower fell
+in the afternoon and hindered the enemy in their advance, else many a
+waggon would have fallen into their hands.
+
+It was no longer necessary for the burghers to resist for the sake of
+the waggons. The enemy had camped and left us, with the exception of the
+guard, to plod our way shamefacedly through the mud. Our ponies, with
+their quick, peculiar gait, soon caught up the heavily-laden waggons,
+and we supplied ourselves with mealies, flour, fowls, etc., that had
+been thrown overboard or left behind on a broken-down waggon. Such is
+the fortune of war, and the things were better in our hands than in
+those of the khakies.
+
+When we rode up alongside the waggons, many a meeting took place between
+relatives and friends who had been parted for months. The women and
+girls drove the horses, and many of them walked with the Kaffirs in the
+mud next to the oxen. They did the work of the men in time of peace.
+Many of them had been delicately nurtured, in spite of the simplicity of
+their lives, and were not accustomed to the hard work. They were all
+Transvaal women, and wives and daughters of the burghers who had to look
+on helplessly at their sad flight. And, oh! the dear little heads of
+the children that peeped at us from out of the waggons! It was a cruel
+sight, and it moved us strangely.
+
+Although most of the women were drenched, they were all cheerful, and
+seemed proud of taking an active part in the great struggle. And if a
+young man asked a girl whether he should ride next to her to help her,
+the answer was: 'No, thank you, we can manage; the men must fight now.'
+There were many old men and boys who preferred the society of the women
+to the danger of the bombs. Some of the women were not kind, and
+reproached us for being the cause of all this misery, as our appearance
+in the Hoogeveld had brought the enemy in its train.
+
+The waggons were heavily laden with furniture and grain, some even with
+stoves, and they sank deep into the mud, as the roads were one mass of
+mud after the numerous waggons and thousands of cattle that had already
+passed along them. Long rows of vehicles were continually approaching
+from all sides, all going in the same direction, and when we came to
+Waterval River a sad but grand sight met our eyes. The river was full.
+Hundreds of waggons had been outspanned on the banks on either side.
+The women and children were doing their best to light the fires with the
+wet wood, and to cook some food. It was just before sunset, but there
+was no sun to cheer them on their way.
+
+Against the sides of the mounds (bulten) the cattle were moving in black
+dense masses, making an almost deafening noise with their bleating and
+lowing. As we rode through the full river, we saw in mid-stream a cart
+that had stuck fast. A woman was standing in the water pushing at the
+back, while a girl held the reins. A few of our men jumped down from
+their horses and soon succeeded in getting the cart to the other side.
+But we could not stay to help the poor women and children. We rode on,
+inquiring everywhere after the trolleys and the commissariat. These were
+higher up on the other side of the river, so we had to cross once more,
+this time in the dark, at the risk of our lives.
+
+Two little girls were drowned that evening, and the wheel of a waggon
+had passed over a girl's body. It had been better if the women had
+stayed at home and depended on the mercy of the enemy. They should not
+have undertaken this terrible journey. A woman cannot flee from place to
+place like a man, and life in a 'refugee'(?) camp would have been
+better; she should bear her sorrow bravely at home. And this was only
+the beginning of the misery. If they had remained at home, they might
+have saved their homes, but now the enemy was sure to destroy and burn
+the deserted farms.
+
+During the day, when the flight was still a novelty, the women and girls
+were cheerful enough, but who can describe their heartache and misery
+during their enforced journey on the rainy nights? I do not know how all
+those waggons and cattle got through the swollen river that night.
+Twenty paces from where I lay a waggon was being inspanned; I heard the
+voices of men and women. An old man was talking. He threatened to
+off-load all the women on the first available place, as he had never in
+his life had so much trouble. A small boy and a Kaffir had their turn
+also; the boy was on horseback and led, or rather dragged, another horse
+that refused to move. He had to collect the cattle, which seemed to me
+almost an impossible task in the dark, among the many horses of the
+burghers. When he had found Kindermeid, Witlies had disappeared, and
+when Witlies was found, then Vaalpens was missing again. Kindermeid, a
+gray ox, was the most troublesome. Repeatedly it passed by me, followed
+by the boy dragging the unwilling horse. Then the boy exclaimed in sad,
+shrill tones, 'See how the mare jibs!' When his father angrily asked,
+'Have you found Kindermeid now?' he answered, 'Yes, father, but now
+Vaalpens is missing; the mare jibs so, I can't get the cattle together!'
+When he had found them all and the rumbling of their waggon was dying
+away in the distance, I still heard him complain of the unwilling mare,
+in his sad, shrill little voice. It was a small episode in my life that
+I shall not easily forget. This was the last I saw of the flight of the
+women, for we had to stay behind to fight as we were retreating. Later
+on I heard many sad tales about it, which I cannot repeat in this little
+book of mine.
+
+The poor women and children were indeed to be pitied, but we had no
+sympathy with the men who fled in the winter with their cattle to the
+Boschveld, and now sought our protection, though they had never fought
+themselves. The flight with the cattle was necessary, as the enemy would
+otherwise have exterminated them, but many of the men took advantage of
+the necessity, and sometimes three or four strong, sturdy men went with
+one waggon, where one man would have been ample.
+
+
+
+
+XV.
+
+BATTLE OF CHRISSIESMEER--REUNION WITH GENERAL BEYERS
+
+
+I will not describe our retreat, as nothing of importance occurred. We
+were constantly on the alert to move before the cunning French entrapped
+us within the circle that he was trying to draw around us.
+
+At Trichardsfontein Malherbe and I had to go in search of our horses,
+which had strayed, so we were separated from our commando for some days.
+When we found our horses we went to Ermelo, and stayed there until the
+enemy were so close upon us that General Louis Botha, who happened to be
+at Ermelo, and knew of our arrival, sent to say that we must leave the
+town. We then joined his force and rode to Spion Kop.
+
+'In the land of the blind the one-eyed is king!' Even so it was with
+Spion Kop of the Hoogeveld Ermelo. During the three years of my
+University life in that distant little country that stands by us now so
+well in our need, I often climbed a hill about the size of Spion Kop.
+That hill is famed for its height throughout the whole country, and
+bears the formidable name of 'the Amersfoort Mountain.'
+
+While the officers were holding a council of war, Malherbe and I rode
+off to our commando. At Klipstapel we were allowed a few days' breathing
+time, and there we prepared for the night attack on Smith-Dorrien's
+camp, to the north of us. But our guide lost his way in the dark, and we
+had to return. It was decided, nevertheless, to attempt the attack the
+following night at Chrissiesmeer, where the camp was then. We had
+everything in our favour. We were a strong force of many commandos, and
+the enemy's force was not much larger.
+
+That evening we were placed in quite a different order from the usual
+one. The men of each corporal's division rode next to each other. The
+Commandant or Veld-Kornet at the head, followed by the corporal with his
+ten or fifteen men riding abreast, was followed by the next corporal
+riding abreast with his men, etc. On looking back from the top of the
+hill in the moonlight, one saw a broad dark mass of fierce, determined
+men. Nearly every burgher had one or two extra horses, mostly mares with
+foals, that we had commandeered and trained during our retreat on the
+Hoogeveld. At that time every horse, trained or untrained, was put to
+use. It was a pity that the mares with their foals were not left behind,
+as they made a terrible noise with their whinnying. We walked our
+horses; we were not allowed to utter a word or to light our pipes--that
+was reasonable; but the neighing of the horses was not exactly in
+accordance with our silence. Every now and again, when the whinnying of
+the mares was at its worst, some burgher or other would give vent to an
+exclamation of impatience. Every now and again someone or other would
+light his pipe, taking care that neither the Veld-Kornet nor the enemy
+should see it. A dead silence reigned everywhere, broken only by the
+mares and their foals. These beasts caused us great uneasiness, but so
+did the order we received that we had to shoot sharp at the beginning
+of the attack, but then slowly, until it became light, so as to save
+some of our ammunition in case of need. We had to attack in the dark
+then. But what if the enemy, prepared for our arrival, were to pepper at
+us unexpectedly from a different direction, or to point their Maxims at
+us?
+
+The greatest mistake of all was that we took our horses right up to the
+hill on the other side of which the khakies were. The horses were tired
+and had ceased neighing, but we should have left them some miles behind
+and walked on to make the attack as soon as it was light. An uncle of
+mine told me that he saw some men on horseback riding over the bull,
+whom he took to be our spies, but they were of course the enemy's guard.
+
+When we had tethered our horses at the foot of the bult, we climbed up
+slowly, but before we could fall into position the enemy opened a sharp
+fire at us. We charged shouting 'Hurrah!' in wild enthusiasm, and fired
+as fast as we could straight ahead. The sparks flew up some twenty paces
+in front of us, and even after the fight we could not tell whether they
+came from our own guns or from those of the enemy. At intervals we
+heard the tick-tick-tick of a small Maxim, but owing to the dark we were
+not mown down. Some of the burghers threw themselves down behind us, and
+involuntarily one thought of the proverb, 'to hide in another's blood.'
+Whenever the firing slackened a few of our brave men charged, shouting
+out encouraging words, and again raised our enthusiasm. Both burghers on
+my right and on my left were wounded. The latter had a most demoralizing
+influence on the rest of the men, as he lay groaning and moaning in a
+heart-rending way. He was only slightly wounded, and eventually escaped
+on horseback. Our brave Commandant Botman went forward ten paces beyond
+the rest in his enthusiasm, and served as a target for the enemy. He was
+severely wounded, but walked back without a moan and fell down close
+behind me. I did not even know that he was wounded. I turned round to
+see if the burghers behind me would not take the initiative in the
+inevitable flight, as I was ashamed to take it upon myself. I did not
+take it at all amiss, therefore, when I saw several men looking round to
+see if the way were clear, and darting like an arrow back to their
+horses, for all round us our men were being shot down, and we did not
+know where the enemy's camp was, nor could we tell the effect of our
+shooting in the dark. A slight fog had arisen, through which the moon
+occasionally succeeded in dimly appearing. The day had dawned; we
+reached our horses in the greatest disorder, and heightened the
+confusion by shouting inquiries to each other after friends and
+relatives. Some did not wait to find their horses, but fled on foot;
+others jumped on strange horses. Some even escaped on khaki horses that
+had strayed from the camp.
+
+As my brother and I galloped off, a man fell wounded close behind us,
+and the bullet struck the ground between us. The burghers rallied at a
+farm in the neighbourhood of the enemy's camp. Some of our men fled on,
+but most of them retreated with the guns to the commissariat trolleys,
+many without saddle, mackintosh or blanket, more hopelessly impoverished
+than ever, but not discouraged, for although the attack had been
+repulsed we were not defeated.
+
+In this lay our strength, that we were not disheartened by our defeats,
+but were able constantly to rally and to renew the attack. We kept on
+exhausting the enemy by slight skirmishes that are not worth relating,
+but their effect on the whole weakened him and strengthened us.
+
+On our side that day there were forty wounded, but only a few killed. It
+grieved us all that Commandant Botman had remained behind on the
+battle-field. He was universally liked for his bravery and for his
+simple Christianity. To our great joy, we heard later on that he had
+recovered, and had somehow succeeded in reaching Krugersdorp.
+Fortunately, the fog prevented the enemy from doing us much harm, and
+towards afternoon our cannon put a stop to their advance.
+
+The attack on Smith-Dorrien's camp was worthy of a better result. In
+this, as well as in the Hekpoort and Boesmanskop battles, where also we
+had no position, the burghers showed great courage and goodwill. In my
+opinion, the officers should have given up the plan of attack after we
+had missed our way the night before and been obliged to return. The
+Kaffirs and traitors must have warned the enemy of our intention to
+attack, so that they could be in readiness for us.
+
+The enemy were now all round us. We heard the firing of cannon on all
+sides, but that same night we undertook a cunning backward movement, and
+when the enemy closed their cordon an hour later the bird had flown. We
+were careful to avoid a repetition of Cronje's experience.
+
+The burghers were very anxious about our lager. We had left it on
+Brown's farm on the Wilgeriver, when our commando advanced towards
+Boesmanskop. How the lager escaped I do not know, for we heard that the
+enemy were advancing from all sides--Standerton, Middelburg, etc. But we
+reached it in safety the very night that we slipped through the enemy's
+cordon.
+
+We were now safely on our way back to Rustenburg, and had to leave
+General French with his 30,000 or 40,000 men to drive along helpless
+women and children, and all the cattle he could lay hands on.
+Commandant-General Louis Botha had strictly forbidden the women to leave
+their farms after the Battle of Boesmanskop, so that the enormous woman
+lager received no new additions.
+
+Many of the farms were burned down, but some families had been left
+unmolested, because they said the enemy were ill at ease, owing to a
+rumour that General Beyers was going to attack them in the rear. The
+partly-burned granaries bore evidence to the great hurry the enemy were
+in. On some farms the very rooms that contained grain were set on fire.
+
+Our constant retreat had a most demoralizing influence. This was felt
+even in our conversation and our expressions. We called this retreating
+'kamping,'[A] and it became one of our most common expressions in our
+daily life. For 'Let us go!' we said 'Let us kamp!' or for 'This evening
+we start!' we said 'This evening we go on the kamp!' A typical
+expression was 'kamping' for our independence, when we could no longer
+withstand the enemy. If anyone boasted of his loyalty to his country and
+people, he merely said that he had 'kamped' along with the burghers
+wherever they had 'kamped.' We used in our conversation many military
+terms; for instance, 'to change one's position' was 'to go and lie with
+your saddle on another place.' 'I shall mauser you' meant 'I shall
+strike you.'
+
+At Grootpan General Beyers again joined us, after having done the enemy
+some harm at Boksburg. He addressed us and explained his reason for
+countermanding the attack on Krugersdorp. He had told the secret to a
+few of his officers, who made it public property, so that the enemy had
+heard of it and were prepared for the attack.
+
+Moreover, a great fault of the burghers had come to light at
+Nooitgedacht--namely, that they shirked their duty in their eagerness
+for plunder. He was afraid that if they took the town their plundering
+spirit would get the better of them and so give the enemy a chance of
+catching them or putting them to flight. Lastly he said that he was
+going to act in opposition to the orders received from the
+Commandant-General, and would send the Zoutpansbergers and Waterbergers
+home that evening, as it was impossible for them in their condition to
+undertake any military operations. He himself also was going home, but
+would return after a few weeks, as a large commando, led if possible by
+himself, was to invade Cape Colony.
+
+Kemp was made fighting General; the Rev. Mr. Kriel left with General
+Beyers; Klaassen took the place of Kemp, and Liebenberg was appointed
+Field-Cornet of our commando.
+
+The return to their homes of the Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers roused
+a feeling of dissatisfaction in us. Owing to the horse-sickness in those
+regions, and the home-sickness of the men themselves, we concluded that
+we were not likely to see them again. We also thought it would have been
+better to have invaded the Colony long ago, instead of aimlessly
+wandering about the Hoogeveld as we had been doing. In all probability
+our Generals put off the invasion as long as possible because many of
+the men--nearly all the Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers--were against
+it. Such were the difficulties against which our Generals had to fight.
+
+In private, both Kemp and Beyers acknowledged to me that a march into
+the Colony was strictly necessary. I do not mean to criticise, but only
+to give an idea of the spirit reigning among the burghers at that time.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote A: 'Trappers.']
+
+
+
+
+XVI
+
+CAMPED NEAR TAFELKOP
+
+
+General Beyers' force was again split into small commandos, which it was
+the intention of our officers to join into one large force, and so make
+their way through the ranks of the enemy. But this plan was not a
+success, for the enemy were too strong for us.
+
+The Krugersdorp and Pretoriadorp commandos one night crossed the railway
+within sight of the khaki camp-lights at Irene Station--quite close to
+our capital, in full view of khaki's warning, 'No admittance!' We passed
+Zwartkop, crossed Dwarsvlei, and had to turn back to the right through
+Hartleyskloof, as we came across a camp of the enemy. We then entered
+the Moot district, dreaded for its terrible horse-sickness, and in the
+beginning of March we arrived at Tafelkop, to the north-east of
+Lichtenburg, near Mabaalstad.
+
+Once, as I lay resting against my saddle, I heard an old Boer telling of
+the courage and hopefulness among the burghers from whom he came. They
+talked of nothing but peace. It was their belief that a European
+Sovereign on marriage may make a request which must be granted. He may
+even ask a million pounds or somebody's head, and cannot be refused. So,
+they said, Queen Wilhelmina had risen to make her speech at her wedding,
+and had requested absolute independence for the Republics. The Kings and
+Princes were against it, but could not break the old custom, and
+therefore peace would soon reign over our country. But such talk of
+'peace' was an exception, not the rule. After the terrible experience of
+the last months, we had become resigned to our fate, and did not try to
+anticipate the future. We knew that we must fight with courage and
+energy, and the rest we left in God's hands. We had ceased to be curious
+about the plans of our Generals, which were never made known to us.
+Exhausted in body and spirit, we took no account of time. It was all
+one to us whether it were morning, noon or night; whether we had to
+march one, two, or three hours longer; whether we had to march at all,
+or to remain where we were. But we were not demoralized, not unnerved.
+An overworked horse allows himself to be caught and ill-treated afresh.
+The enemy, had only to fire at us to rouse our slumbering energy, for we
+suffered voluntarily, and were a support to each other, because of our
+firm conviction that we were giving our lives for the sake of our
+independence.
+
+It rained when we arrived at Tafelkop, and when we had been there a week
+it still rained. The only clothes we possessed were beginning to rot on
+our bodies. Some of the burghers had a change of clothes on the
+trolleys; others made themselves trousers of their many-coloured
+blankets, in which they cut a remarkable figure. Others, again, were in
+tatters, and had to disappear on the few occasions that any lady visited
+us. Most of the men had no mackintoshes, but always looked forward to
+the sunshine that was sure to follow a heavy shower. But if the rain
+continued, we made huts of grass, or clubbed together in the few
+remaining tents, or if there happened to be an unburned farmhouse, we
+made for that.
+
+When the rain continued at Tafelkop, and our limbs became stiffened with
+the cold, some of us went to an outhouse belonging to a neighbouring
+farm to seek shelter. During the day we sat there in our wet clothes
+staring dismally out into the rain. At night we tried to warm our naked
+bodies by covering ourselves with the dirty wool that happened to be
+lying there. All the outhouses in the neighbourhood were crowded with
+armed burghers in tatters. On the eighth day, when the welcome sun made
+its appearance once more, our clothes were still dripping.
+
+Lately we had had fruit as a substitute for sugar; but the fruit season
+was over now, and we had to go back to meat and mealie-porridge, or
+mealie-porridge and meat.
+
+In the Moot our horses died in such numbers--particularly the 'unsalted'
+mares--that many of our men had to walk. On March 10 my faithful brown
+pony Steenbok died of horse-sickness. For over a year he had carried me
+through thick and thin, and I could not bear to see his suffering. A few
+weeks later we got another lot of horses; I will not mention how, as
+the information might fall into the hands of the enemy. The people who
+still lived on their farms often told us that the few remaining fowls
+instinctively recognised khaki as an enemy, and made for the hedges and
+shrubs whenever they caught sight of him. So here, also, Nature looked
+after the survival of the species. The cows taken by the enemy also made
+their way back to their calves that khaki stupidly left behind, and so
+the little children could again have milk. Even the bees were not left
+undisturbed; but the bee is an enemy of any nasty-smelling thing, and
+therefore the dirty, perspiring khakies got many a sting, and the honey
+usually remained in the hives.
+
+The enemy probably thought that we were helpless in our poverty. But a
+Boer is not easily made helpless. We patched our own shoes and carried
+the lasts about with us. Horseshoes and nails we made from the tires of
+wheels and telegraph-wires. Instead of matches we used two stones. When
+the enemy have burned and destroyed all our corn-mills, we will still
+have coffee-mills, and when those are gone we will do as the Kaffirs do,
+and grind our corn between two stones--and crushed and roasted maize is
+very good to eat.
+
+The old Voortrekkers wore trousers made of untanned hide. We can do the
+same if khaki does not supply us with sufficient clothes. Our wives and
+children and our exiled men we cannot get out of khaki's hands, and that
+is the greatest difficulty in our way.
+
+One of the greatest advantages we have over the enemy is that we are
+among friends, and can move about in small troops without having to
+depend on a base of operations, whereas they do well not to divide
+themselves in too small groups, or to venture too far from their
+base--even in large numbers.
+
+The services in our camp were held by the Rev. Mr. Naude--a man who kept
+the courage and the moral sense of the burghers up to the mark with his
+meek Christian spirit. He also formed the debating club that was such a
+welcome recreation to us. We often thought that the enemy would be
+surprised if they could know of the debates we had--for instance, 'Must
+the "hands-uppers" be allowed to vote after the war is over?' 'Must the
+Kaffirs or natives have more rights?' 'Is intervention advisable under
+the circumstances? etc. The men in the neighbourhood of Tafelkop were
+mostly 'hands-uppers,' so we confiscated their property, and their grain
+and cattle we took for the use of the lager, but we always left
+sufficient for the use of the women and children. The future of a farm
+on which a lager had camped for some time was dark indeed, for even the
+grain in the fields was destroyed by the demon of war. If the owner of
+the farm were not a 'hands-upper,' our officers usually succeeded in
+preventing the destruction. Sometimes the pulling up of the fencing was
+inevitable, as we were so short of fuel. The Boer women were sometimes
+forced to accept the protection of the enemy, after their farms and
+property had been destroyed by friend and enemy alike.
+
+The negotiation of February 7, between Kitchener and Louis Botha, was
+read out to us at Tafelkop. The burghers were unanimous in condemnation
+of Kitchener's conditions, and were fully satisfied with Botha's short,
+vigorous answer. Had we indeed fought so long and so fiercely only to
+become an English colony, and not to be allowed to carry arms unless we
+had a license? And for the Kaffirs to be eventually allowed to vote?
+The men who were attached to their families and farms, but preferred
+losing all to becoming 'hands-uppers,' were unanimous in declaring
+Kitchener's conditions unacceptable, and all were ready to fight to the
+bitter end. We often spoke of the terrible suffering of our women and
+children in the refugee camps, and sometimes doubted whether it were not
+better for their sakes to give in. We did not know whether patriotism
+were worth the shedding of so much innocent blood. It cost us more than
+we can tell to remain firm and brave in our undertaking.
+
+At that time we also heard of De Wet's retreat from Cape Colony, but not
+officially. It was broken to us gently, and at first as if he had been
+successful, so that we all thought peace was to follow soon.
+
+How we rejoiced!
+
+But a few days later De Wet's official report was read out to us, and
+then our courage sank indeed. What was the good of our fighting if the
+Colony would not help us?
+
+The disappointment was not great enough to make us lay down our arms,
+but we knew it would be many a long day before peace was in the land.
+How long should we still be chased from place to place? When would there
+be rest for our exhausted bodies? And how we longed for our dear ones,
+if only we should find them alive!
+
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+BATTLE OF STOMPIES--IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY
+
+
+We stayed fully three weeks at Tafelkop. I was appointed commissary of
+the Krugersdorp commando, and rode round to all the farms to procure the
+needful for our commando. As General De la Rey had been camping close by
+at Rietfontein for some time, there was not much left to commandeer,
+unless we deprived the women whose husbands were in the veld of the
+necessaries of life.
+
+Our lager was moved from Tafelkop to Rietpan, from whence a few hundred
+of our horsemen started with some guns and a few trolleys for Groot
+Kafferkraal, in Hartbeestfontein district. General De la Rey had come
+over to organize the expedition in person, and accompanied General Kemp.
+I went with a man called Jooste to the neighbourhood of Lichtenberg and
+Klein Kafferkraal to commandeer cattle. There I heard many tales of the
+enemy's behaviour as they passed through a week before.
+
+For some reason or other the houses there had not been burnt, perhaps
+owing to the verbal negotiation between Botha and Kitchener. I know of
+only one house that was burned down there. That was the finest house in
+the neighbourhood and belonged to Willem Basson. Mrs. Basson herself
+told me how it happened. Her husband had fled with the cattle when the
+enemy came along. The soldiers asked her for money. They said such a
+fine house must contain a great deal of money, and when she refused they
+became most impertinent. The finding of a packet of dynamite in the
+coach-house afforded a fine excuse. The dynamite was used by Basson for
+the making of wells. On finding the packet they shouted 'Hurrah!' and
+rushed off with it to the camp close to the house. They came back after
+a while and stormed the house, smashing the windows with stones. Truly a
+heroic storming of a fortress held by women! They destroyed everything
+in the house, and the women and children were obliged to flee to Mrs.
+Scheffers at Klein Kafferkraal, where I met them.
+
+We know of many cases of cruelty and violence, cases that have roused us
+to a passion of hatred.
+
+I do not believe that the cases of violence, which are not spoken of
+because of the horror, are tolerated by the military authorities, who
+are probably ignorant of them. One can understand that the worst were
+committed by isolated patrols who could give free vent to their evil
+passions. We cannot always hold the chief officers responsible for acts
+committed by individual soldiers, neither are our officers responsible
+for the unlawful acts of individuals on our side. But if the English,
+with their national pride and obstinacy, deny these acts of violence, we
+can give them sufficient proof of more cases than one.
+
+I was not present when the Krugersdorpers attacked Babington's force
+near Lensdenplaats, in the neighbourhood of Groot Kafferkraal. But the
+following morning, when they were retreating, I joined them with some
+cattle, and was present at the Battle of Stompies. The night before the
+battle I heard De la Rey's order given to Kemp to march his men at four
+o'clock the following morning in the direction of the enemy. He was told
+to retreat fighting, in case the enemy attacked, so as to give our
+reinforcements an opportunity of attacking in the rear. Kemp ordered the
+lager, or, rather, the few waggons, to retire to Bodenstein's farm the
+following morning.
+
+While we were busy inspanning we heard the enemy's bomb-Maxim, and
+before the waggons had forded the dangerous drift of the donga near
+Bodenstein's farm the bullets flew over our heads from the bult behind
+us. The women fled into the house and the burghers retreated as fast as
+they could. The enemy had surrounded us in the night, and each burgher
+had to do his utmost to escape from out of the half-circle. The few who
+stayed behind to defend the guns were soon obliged to fly after the
+rest, and to abandon one gun still on the other side of the drift. The
+others might have been saved if the women's lager had not impeded their
+flight by obstructing the way.
+
+We retreated to Vetpan. Those of the burghers who retreated more to the
+right in the direction of Stompies were the best off, as the right wing
+of the enemy had to be on its guard not to enter the wood there. The
+enemy fired at us from horseback to enhance our panic, which was clever
+of them, as it was impossible for us to turn in any direction. My horse
+was overworked, and had changed its pace into a heavy gallop, a sure
+sign that it would not last much longer. When I looked round, I saw a
+few khakies riding on ahead, making our burghers 'hands-up.'
+Fortunately, someone released a spare horse; I mounted it without a
+saddle and made good my escape, but was incapable of riding for several
+days after.
+
+Our men made no attempt to check the enemy's progress. They all fled,
+each one bent on saving himself. A Boer, if once he flies, is not easily
+turned aside. But it must be remembered that our horses were terribly
+overworked. They had to live on nothing but grass, and very little of
+that. We all also recognised the impossibility of checking the enemy, as
+we ran the risk of shooting our own men and women; so our only chance
+lay in flight.
+
+The horses of the enemy were soon 'done up,' and they had to satisfy
+themselves with our guns--two large ones that we had taken from them at
+Colenso, a damaged bomb-Maxim and several smaller ones. They took 136
+prisoners, among whom were Lieutenant Odendaal, 32 artillerists, 13
+burghers, and for the rest women and children and some big, full-grown
+cowardly men who were in the habit of fleeing with the women and
+children. The greater part of the women's lager fell into their hands.
+The few waggons of Generals Smuts and Kemp that they captured were of no
+importance. Jooste and Malherbe were also taken prisoners.
+
+I rode with General De la Rey to Tafelkop, where our lager was
+stationed. In a week's time I was back again at Stompies. I had been
+there scarcely an hour, when the tidings came that the enemy were camped
+on Willem Basson's farm. The following morning before daybreak I was on
+my way to Rietfontein. There, too, I had been only about an hour, when
+another column came down upon me from the direction of Ventersdorp. I
+fled to Tivee Buffelgeschiet with two boiled mealies and a piece of
+meat in my hands. Before I reached that farm, half an hour's ride, my
+horse was done up. I crept behind an ant-hill and prepared to defend
+myself against four scouts who seemed to be coming straight towards me.
+Suddenly, however, they turned off in the direction of their main-guard,
+because, as I afterwards heard, they were threatened by eight of our
+scouts.
+
+But the khakies were nearing me, and I was obliged to lead my horse into
+a mealie-veld and to lie down full length in the rain. They did not
+appear, however, and I concluded that they had camped at Rietfontein, so
+I walked my horse to the farm of Mrs. Jansen, one of the few hospitable
+women in that sparsely inhabited country. She hastily informed me that
+the khakies had been there.
+
+The eight burghers soon returned, among them a young man who was nursing
+a wounded man on the farm. In the night we went into the veld with a
+small brother of his, who rode a mule, and returned in the morning to
+watch the enemy's movements from the roof of the house. My horse was so
+ill with horse-sickness that it shook under me. The enemy suddenly
+appeared on the long bult (hill) along which I had come the day before.
+I carried my saddle into the house and fled into the veld. From behind
+an ant-hill I watched the enemy shooting my poor sick horse. They passed
+by me several times, but at last I was discovered, and had to give up my
+beloved Mauser without a chance of defending myself. My two companions
+escaped. This happened on April 3, 1901.
+
+Fortunately, I fell into the hands of decent khakies who did not insist
+on examining my old veld-shoes that I was using as a money-box, so I was
+able to keep my precious four pounds. They took from me only a few
+trifles by way of curiosities, and said I was sure to be robbed of them
+sooner or later by the soldiers in the camp. I was told that I could
+congratulate myself that I was made prisoner, as many columns were
+coming down upon us from all directions, so that we would be obliged to
+surrender that very day. I answered that the war had given sufficient
+proof that their expectations were not always realized.
+
+When the officers of the guard were told that I was taken under arms, a
+curt order was given to 'Let him walk.' When I protested and pointed
+out that I was a prisoner of war and not a criminal, I was treated with
+consideration as an ordinary soldier. I was taken by Babington's force.
+
+The following day the waggon lager arrived at Tafelkop, and the cavalry
+that had been sent on to capture our lager joined the camp _minus_ any
+prisoners. When the enemy's lager arrived at Potchefstroom a week later,
+it brought along seventeen or eighteen 'hands-uppers,' one ambulance
+doctor, several families, and one prisoner of war. Six of the
+'hands-uppers' told me that the whole month we were camped at Tafelkop
+they had hidden from us in their bedrooms so as not to be obliged to
+break their oath of neutrality.
+
+I came across an old acquaintance of mine in the lager--Phister, who had
+served under Commandant Boshoff. I knew that he had been wounded in the
+leg at the Battle of Stompies and taken by our men to Rietpan. On the
+trek from Ventersdorp to Potchefstroom I discovered him lying on his
+back in the blazing sun on an open trolley, near to Potchefstroom; he
+shouted to me that he had had nothing to eat during the whole of the
+eighteen hours' trek.
+
+In Potchefstroom our trolley, with the twelve 'hands-uppers,' the
+ambulance doctor, and myself, was sent in the direction of the prison.
+People came towards us from all directions. Some women called out to us:
+'Why were you so stupid as to let yourselves be caught?' Others
+inquired, weeping, after husbands and sons.
+
+When we got to the prison I alone was detained, and had the disagreeable
+experience of being locked up. The ambulance doctor was dismissed, as he
+was 'Not guilty'; and the 'hands-uppers' were taken to the refugee camp.
+
+The treatment that the prisoners of war receive varies, and depends very
+much on the prisoners themselves and on the men into whose hands they
+fall. I was allowed to see my mother and sister, who obtained a pass to
+come from Pretoria to see me. But I have seen the guards roughly send
+away weeping women who were begging to be allowed a few words only with
+their dear ones.
+
+At Elandsfontein Station the Transvaal colours worn by some of the
+prisoners of war were taken away by force. On the long journey to
+Ladysmith we were packed like herrings in open trucks, with insufficient
+covering for the cold nights.
+
+The Ladysmith camp contained chiefly burghers who had been 'tamed' by
+the enemy, and were ready to take the oath of allegiance. They were well
+treated.
+
+On April 3 I was taken prisoner, and on May 6 I was on board the
+_Manila_, together with 490 other prisoners of war, on our way to India.
+
+The burghers, accustomed to a free, independent life, suffered horribly
+from want of space and insufficient and bad food. They could not get
+over the idea of having to appear twice daily for the roll-call,
+although there was no escape possible. But their sense of humour did not
+suffer.
+
+Our burghers acknowledge that travelling is an education in itself, but
+they one and all prefer travelling as free men--first or second
+class--and they even prefer the high walls and limited space of the
+fortress to being a prisoner-of-war passenger on board the steamer.
+
+The long, galvanized-iron bungalows in which we live here have zinc
+roofs to guard against the heat of the tropical sun, but at any rate the
+wind can blow through the openings on either side. The burghers are kept
+alive and in pretty good health by an extremely temperate manner of
+life. Once a week they are taken by a strong guard for a walk an hour
+beyond the fort. They never get out on parole. As far as we are
+concerned, they might even take cannon along with them to guard us, if
+only they would take us out oftener.
+
+Here, too, the moral tone of the burghers is kept up by religious
+services, and by the great devotion of the Rev. Mr. Viljoen, clergyman
+of Reitz, in the Orange Free State, who is a fellow-prisoner of ours.
+The gaiety is kept up by sports and by the companionship of many
+children. The sorrow is enhanced by the presence of many gray-headed old
+men and by sad and heart-breaking tidings. 'Guard, is there any news
+this morning?'
+
+We are grieving with the grief of the exile, but we are waiting
+patiently, and hoping still that a dove will bring us a branch with our
+colours--Orange, green, red, white and blue: peace and independence.
+
+
+
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