dispatch, which
we understood called us back to Krugersdorp and hinted that the war
was over.

After a day's rest at this rather pleasant camp, the force moved into
Pochefstroom (eighteen miles), and marched past the General in the
Market Square on the 25th, remaining there until the 27th. It had been
on the move for nearly a month with very little rest, during which
time men and horses had undoubtedly got very wiry and fit. But beyond
collecting a certain amount of stores, cattle, and forage, it is
doubtful whether all the forced marches and strenuous exertions had
been of much benefit, or whether they served to bring hostilities much
nearer to a conclusion. Although the enemy, in more or less force, had
been viewed practically every day, it had always been impossible to
bring him to close quarters, and the policy of wearing out
infantrymen's hearts, tempers, constitutions, and boots in abortive
pursuits of mounted enemies was, and in the light of all that we now
know still is, open to question, for a reference to the _Times_
history of the war shows that all our wanderings and meanderings are
summed up in very few sentences, the most pregnant of which is to the
effect that word had gone out to the Boer Commandoes not to interfere
with us.

On the 27th the column started on its march back to Krugersdorp, and
did the distance (sixty-two miles) in four easy stages. It marched by
the road south of the Gatsrand Hills, with the Losberg on its right,
and with the exception of one day (29th) without molestation from the
enemy. On that occasion they made a somewhat determined attack on the
rearguard, attempting to cut off some waggons, and the last few miles
of the march took the shape of a running fight. The General had ridden
on ahead with the cavalry to our next camp, so Colonel Hicks sent back
a couple of guns to the rearguard, who shook off the terrier-like
attentions of the enemy without very much trouble; but they had
delayed the march a good deal, and it was not till late in the evening
that every one got in, and heard that the war really was over at last.
An officer in the regiment who was considerably exhausted sank on to
his valise, too tired to care for anything. His servant said to him,
'We'll be in Krugersdorp to-morrow, sorr, and I'll be able to get yiz
some claning matherials,' to which his weary master replied, 'I don't
care a damn whether I'm clean or whether I'm dirty.' In answer his man
made the followi