scated, and came in very useful
after the engagement of the previous day. The commandant and his party
were then dismissed.

AGAINST THE RAILWAY.

Towards the end of July, 1901, large forces of the enemy had
concentrated upon my commando. Our only salvation then lay in crossing
the Port Elizabeth railway line, near which we then were.

After a day's fighting we set out to the line, but to our great
disappointment and embarrassment we found the line securely guarded by
armoured trains, which made it impossible for us to cross during the
day.

The enemy had followed us up, and there was no chance of retracing our
steps. All we could do was to resist the foe till it was dark, and then
try to escape. This we did, and succeeded in repelling the enemy. The
burghers fought bravely, but at sunset they were forced to evacuate
their positions and withdraw to a mountain next to the railway line.

This was our last position. We could go no farther. In front of us was
the railway, behind and on our flanks the British columns. Indeed, an
uncomfortable situation! We fought until it was quite dark; then the
firing ceased, and we had time to plan an escape. And this is what we
did. At 11 o'clock that evening numerous fires were kindled on the top
of the mountain. We knew that these fires would be misleading; the
enemy, as long as they saw the lights, would think that we were still on
the mountain, and, being less watchful, we might slip through.

At 12 o'clock we saddled. We were going to try to pass through the
enemy's line. On we rode, silently and guided by the sentinels' fires;
we knew exactly which spots to avoid. Every moment brought us nearer to
our doom or deliverance. Shall we succeed or not? we anxiously asked
ourselves. Unnoticed we passed the foe and were free once more.

The next morning only the ashes of our fires were surrounded. As a
shower of rain had fallen the same night, wiping out the footprints of
our horses, the British certainly wondered what became of us. The Boers
had again disappeared so mysteriously.

I shall conclude this chapter with two striking incidents. On the 13th
of August, 1901, we came in conflict with the British forces in the
district of Venterstad, Cape Colony. During the engagement I observed
that the enemy was bent on a certain position which, if seized, would
enable them to surround us. Now the Boer never likes to be surrounded.
There is nothing that he dreads so much as a siege. To