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Methuen had been recalled from the Rustenburg expedition to deal with an outbreak on the line from Johannesburg to Klerksdorp, which fell into the hands of the enemy; 5,000 Boers were reported to be on or near the Magaliesberg; a small British force was besieged in Brakfontein, west of Rustenburg, on the road to Mafeking; De Wet was at large in the Free State, and it seemed probable that he would come up into the Transvaal and add to the trouble.
This consists of the determined attack made by a party of De la Rey's men, upon December 3rd, on a convoy which was proceeding from Pretoria to Rustenburg, and had got as far as Buffel's Hoek. The convoy was a very large one, consisting of 150 wagons, which covered about three miles upon the march.
This position could not be said to be part of Lord Roberts's line, but rather to be a link to connect his army with Rustenburg.
Monday morning, the 26th, arrived and found us still waiting; then the Bodyguard got twenty minutes' notice and entrained, horses, kits and everything for Rustenburg. We arrived there at five o'clock the following morning, and started at once in pursuit of rebel commandos which were led by Kemp and Beyers.
"Shall I tell you how he bought those orange-groves at Rustenburg and the country seat near Johannesburg and the drag with the silver-mounted harness and the team of blood bays?" "No, please!" begged Greta, flinching from the torture. But the English girl was pitiless. She checked the letters off upon her fingers: "I. D. B." A shout went up from the Red Class. Greta turned and ran.
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.
Yet no charge has been more often repeated and has caused more piteous protests among the soft-hearted and soft-headed editors of Continental journals. The absence of Colenbrander in the Rustenburg country gave Beyers a chance of which he was not slow to avail himself.
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.
At the date of our visit, however, all was peaceful, and, but for a few burghers riding in haste to surrender their arms, not a trace of the enemy was to be seen. The next day we reached Rustenburg, where we stayed the night, and learnt that General Baden-Powell and his Staff had left there for Pretoria, to confer with Lord Roberts.
In a very early stage, before the formal declaration of war, the enemy had massed several commandos upon the western border, the men being drawn from Zeerust, Rustenburg, and Lichtenburg.
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