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At midday they off-saddled the horses for an hour by some water, and ate a small portion of their remaining food. Then they up-saddled and went on across the lonely, desolate veldt. No human being did they see all that long day.
I heard a good deal about panics I was now to see one with my own eyes. Whilst I was looking for my horse to get him up-saddled a few of the burghers were making some sort of a stand against the enemy. But all those who had already up-saddled were riding away at break-neck speed. Many even were leaving their saddles behind and galloping off bare-back. As I up-saddled my horse I called out to them:
He at once replied that we must go and liberate the women. As we were already up-saddled in readiness for our march, I had nothing to do but to give the order to start. The President, with his staff and some of the bodyguard, remained behind; while General De la Rey, Commandant Davel and I, with fifty-five men, hurried off. The retired General, Piet Fourie, was also with us.
And now there was an end to all boasting, for without firing a single shot the enemy surrendered. We took twenty prisoners there, and an equal number of rifles and bandoliers. The horses we captured again twenty in number were in excellent condition, and all up-saddled. We now had made ninety men our prisoners since we crossed the Orange River.
The scouts returned at ten o'clock that night, and reported that the enemy was on the march towards Harrismith. In order to reach this town they would have to start by the Bethlehem road, from which the Harrismith road forks, at about eight thousand paces from the town. Our horses stood ready up-saddled; I had only to give the order to mount.
When this was done we departed and rode on to Rietspruit, where we up-saddled, and then pushed on to Rhenosterpoort. The Oath of Neutrality Arriving at Rhenosterpoort, I found there Commandant F. Van Aard, with his commando. He told me that after I had left the laager, the burghers had not been troubled again by the English.
Now I had sent out scouts not, however, Commandant Jan Theron's men, but ordinary burghers whom the Commandants had sent out and just as we had partaken about noon of a late breakfast, these burghers came hurriedly into the camp, shouting: "The enemy is close at hand!" It was not long before every one had up-saddled, and we were off.
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