nger would have
believed that stony hills were full of men and horses. I don't think
that there were more than 400 or 500, evidently the advance-guard. We
were kept lively the whole time, as almost every man and horse came into
the yard for water, which is in a spring fifty yards from the front
door, and had to be got out in buckets. They asked for anything and
everything except meat. We gave as long as we could, thinking discretion
the better part of valour. They invariably offered to pay, but our
answer was, 'We are under martial law.'

"On Monday three men came to commandeer our carriage horses, one
riding-horse, and my youngest boy's pony. We argued; but no! They must
take them, as they were big and fat. My husband had almost given it up,
being tired out. When they entered the stable, I stood by my favourite
and slated them. The men were not Boers, but some of the scum who have
joined.

"One, as ugly as sin, replied, 'Well, we will allow the lady to keep her
trap-horses, but we will take the two riding-horses. We want this
flat-backed, nice-looking pony for a stout man.'

"Then followed a scene. My son, aged eleven, rushed and threw his arms
round his pony's neck, sobbing, and shouting out, 'I'll shoot the first
Dutchman that touches him' (the boy is a cadet).

"'What a ---- of a row, mates; let's clear.'

"It was too much even for that scoundrel.

"Within an hour they brought down the troop branded N.G., put them in
the kraal, caught unbroken mares with foals--anything the wretches could
lay hands on.

"I stood by, and said, 'Are you Boers (farmers) like ourselves or
vagabonds? I'll put a fire in the grass for you.'

"A genuine Boer remonstrated with them, but it was of no use; so, for a
loaf of bread, he agreed to take a note to Commandant-General David
Joubert.

"I wrote explaining matters, and received a courteous reply, saying they
had no authority from him. He called later on, and told us to resist
them; that if he required anything he would write, and send one of his
own officers; and Mr. Kirby must go into the camp and pick out all the
horses--an honour he declined, saying we were under martial law, and he
wished to have nothing to do with them.

"On my going out to meet General Joubert, he sat on his horse, pipe in
mouth, slouch hat well pulled over his ears.

"His aide-de-camp said, 'Our Commandant-General.'

"I shook hands, and said, 'Commandant who?'

"He replied, 'David Joubert;' he's o