to stand or fall thereby. We
would fight to the last cartridge, and then try and break through the
cordon during the night.

In the meanwhile the enemy had drawn nearer. At about 8 A.M. the
fighting commenced. From different directions shell after shell was
hurled upon us. Again and again the enemy charged us, but was beaten
back with greater loss to themselves than to us. Retreat? We could not.
Surrender? That was out of the question; so from morn till sunset we
clung to our positions, as though we were tied to them, and defended our
persons as resolutely as possible.

Just as the sun was setting we stormed one of the enemy's positions. And
although three of the burghers were wounded, the rest succeeded in
expelling the enemy. Our way was now open; when darkness set in we could
recross the Tarka. A pom-pom fire was opened upon us from the column on
our left flank as we crossed the stream, which was then so high that our
horses had to swim. Owing to the darkness none were injured.

The following day we had the pleasure of capturing the Commandant of
Tarka Stad with his escort. The enemy was so sure of our surrender that
a report was sent to Tarka Stad to the effect that we were quite
surrounded, and that they hoped to deliver us the following morning at 8
o'clock. And as they might require some more ammunition to force us to
surrender, the military must forward some.

The commandant of the village was taking this ammunition out when we met
him. His men, riding in twos and threes at some distance apart, were
disarmed by us without wasting bullets on them. At last the commandant,
who happened to be some distance behind, came riding up to us. As he
came on I rode up to him and said in a friendly tone: "Old chap, you'd
better let me have your gun." Thinking that I was imposing upon him, he
said: "Come along; don't play the fool!" When I had assured him that I
was in earnest he remarked: "But surely you are not a Boer. Kritzinger's
commando is the only one in the district, and that is surrounded." Then
taking the report out of his pocket he said: "Just read
this--'Kritzinger surrounded, will be captured and brought in
to-morrow.'" Imagine his astonishment on learning that he was then
addressing the very man whom he had hoped to meet as a prisoner-of-war.

He handed me his rifle. After that we had a long conversation, and
enjoyed a drink together, as though we had never been at war.

The ammunition and horses were confi