urance. And all through that weary march no lights were permitted; no
smoking even, which gives one something to do; and when we got into the
bivouac at two o'clock, no fires or lights. We had to be up at five and
start in the misery of darkness and intense cold; without even the
comfort of a hot drink; but we reached the water at eight, and had a
long morning of rest and sunshine. No one really grumbles at this sort
of thing, although it is most unpleasant; and as the men are all picked
for health and endurance, no one is any the worse for it.

We marched eighteen miles on Thursday night, and four the next morning;
thirteen yesterday evening, and eight this morning; this afternoon we
expect to do another twelve, and reduce the distance before us to an
easy two days' journey. Of course, all this speed is achieved at a
certain cost in mule and horse flesh, but we hope that the end will
justify it. The authorities at Kimberley have not done so well for us as
they might have done. They did not take the trouble to find out exactly
how many horses were in the force, with the result that the daily horse
ration has been reduced from the inadequate seven pounds to the absurd
four pounds, while the men are on half meat and three-quarter biscuit
rations. Another serious defect in the equipment of the column is that
there is not even a section of engineers with us. The want is the more
felt as water is scarce and bad along the route; often the only water is
a small pan or pond into which the mules wade breast high and churn it
into mud, which the men have to make a shift to drink. A few sappers and
a waggon with the advance guard would ensure a clean supply for
everyone, since water that is quite insufficient in a dam can be made to
go a long way when it is pumped into watering troughs; and a section of
engineers can fix up the whole necessary apparatus in ten minutes.

Far more interesting than the march of a great army corps, where one
gets lost in the miles of transport, is the progress of a small column
like this, where one is more or less in touch with everyone, and can
watch from within the deliberations and methods of the small staff to
whom success or failure means so very much. The little group that rides
in front of the guns discusses minutely many questions of absorbing
interest in the course of a day's march. Whether such and such a ridge
ought to be patrolled; how far the scouts are working in this or that
direction;