ng cryptic remark: ''Tis no use talking like that,
sorr. Lord Roberts says the war is over, and we'll begin soldiering
now.'

The following summary of the work done was published for
information:--

'SUMMARY OF WORK OF POCHEFSTROOM COLUMN.

'The Pochefstroom column started from Krugersdorp on the 29th August,
and returned on 30th September. The task of the column is to assist in
stamping out the resistance of the remaining scattered forces of the
enemy by hunting them, and depriving them of their supplies of food
and transport, with a view to bringing the war to an end. In the first
cruise of 33 days the column has marched 310 miles--the length of
England from Portsmouth to Scotland--and was in action with the enemy
on 29 days, putting them to flight on each occasion. The column's
casualties were only 3 killed, 24 wounded, and 3 missing. The Boers
lost considerably according to accounts of Kaffirs present; we found
some of their dead, including General Theron. In prisoners of war
and important arrests, the column took 96 of the enemy. Loyal
inhabitants, numbering 316 men, women, and children, were rescued from
Pochefstroom, and safely conveyed to Wolverdiend. General Liebenburg
ordered General Douthwaite to attack this convoy, but Douthwaite
thought it dangerous, and was arrested by Liebenburg for suggesting
that he, Liebenburg, "had better do it himself." The convoy was not
attacked. The column took from the enemy the following cattle: 2720
sheep and 3281 goats; 1066 sacks of mealies, 104 sacks of meal, 2
waggon-loads of mealie cobs, 12 sacks of wheat, 847 loaves of bread,
162 sacks of potatoes, 68 sacks of oats, 33 sacks of bran, 36,000
bundles of oat-hay, 299 bales of chaff, 400 bundles of manna-hay, 90
horses, 28 ponies, 11 mules, 36 waggons, 31 carts, and destroyed 45
waggons and carts that could not be taken away.

'(Signed) A. HART (Captain),
'_C.S.O. Pochefstroom Column._

'_Krugersdorp, 2nd October, 1900._'

[Illustration: 'Come to the Cook-House Door, Boys!']

'We looked for peace, but no good came.'--_Jer._ viii. 15.

CHAPTER V.

FREDERICKSTADT--KLIP RIVER--THE LOSBERG.

'Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
And Heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?'

_Taming of the Shrew._

Our camp, on this our third visit to Krugersdorp, was on the
south-west side of the town. The 6th B