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They were stationed not only at a distance from the camp, as Brandwachten, but also close round the laager itself. We were especially careful, as it was rumoured that the English had armed the Zulus of Natal. Had this been true, it would have been necessary to exercise the utmost vigilance to guard against these barbarians.
That night we placed the ordinary outposts, but no "brandwachten." When on the next morning I sent my scouts out to discover the movements of the enemy, what was my surprise when they reported that they had fled.
Also we Free-Staters had endured much from the Basutos, in the wars of 1865 and 1867. History had thus taught us to place Brandwachten round our laagers at night, and to reconnoitre during the hours of darkness as well as in the day-time.
The "brandwachten" night pickets of the Rouxville Commando were already on their way back to the camp, when one of them, who had by chance returned to the top of the mountain, saw, in the shadow of the valley, and on the slopes of the mountain, human forms moving silently onward. One glance of his keen eye assured him that those forms were enemies. Bang! went the first rifle report.
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