r necks over
ant-heaps, while some only got away a few yards before the explosion
took place. Fortunately none were injured, and when all was over they
laughed heartily over their own disorderly retreat.

After we had blown up the line we went to a farm about three miles away.
As we halted in front of the door, the farmer's wife--her husband had
been deported--came out. The old lady appeared very agitated; she begged
us kindly to leave as soon as possible. It seemed she was entertaining
three English soldiers as guests that night, and was anxious that we
should not disturb their slumbers, which action would get her into
trouble. "Oh, do go," she said, "for if you disturb these sleeping
guests, I also will be prosecuted and sent to India." Poor soul! She was
doing her best to protect her visitors, not because she cared so much
for them, but for fear of the consequences should we lay hands on them.
We could not, however, listen to her plea. We did not want Tommy
himself, but only his rifle and ammunition. Hence we went to their room
and found them sharing one bed. It was midnight and so they did not
expect us at all. Imagine their feelings on realizing that armed Boers
surrounded their bed! Their complete helplessness, as they lay undressed
and unarmed, caused the burghers to indulge in hearty laughter. To
silence their fears we assured them that they need not dread any evil,
we would soon dismiss them.

Our military councils were frequently occasions of humour--a grim humour
which could only appeal to the Boer, made grim by the treachery of
fellow-Dutchmen.

At the beginning of the war some, especially the uninitiated, dreaded
nothing more than a war council. To such it was a body of men invested
with unlimited power, a council that could pronounce sentence of death
on whomsoever they wished. To appear before this august assembly meant
almost certain death. Now sometimes it meant that, but more often not.
For one reason or another prisoners were for the time being brought in
under a wrong impression of the character of the assembly. Such was the
case with two farmers in the district of Trompsburg, Orange River
Colony. They had been arrested on a charge of sending reports to the
enemy. Terror-stricken, they appeared before the war council, there to
render an account of their deeds. Before their trial began, the
president of the council, in addressing the other officers, assured them
that whatever sentence they should c