We rode at a flying gallop for fully half an hour—­along the Magalies Mountains, between the Witwatersranden and the many smaller banks, while to the left the enemy were descending and firing at us.  The Waterbergers and Zoutpansbergers, who learnt later than we did that the enemy were surrounding us, would all have been taken prisoners had they not forced their way bravely through thick and thin.  As far as we can tell, our loss was, fortunately, only one killed.

At the Manharen, a peculiar kind of kopje, we halted, but had to retreat further towards evening.

Beyers’ commando moved in the direction of Gatsrand, but had to turn to Zwartruggens, near Rustenburg, when it reached the farm Modderfontein, where we celebrated Christmas.  The enemy was constantly at our heels, and made things hot for us; we often had to hurry most inconveniently not to be surrounded or cut off.  We got a few days’ rest on the farm Vlakhoek.  We were camped near a small stream, and went from there to the different farms in search of the first fruit of the season.

On New Year’s Eve General Beyers’ commando moved on the wide hard Krugersdorp road.  The bullock waggon lager had been left behind, as it prevented us from moving as quickly as was sometimes necessary.  The burghers still longed to attack Krugersdorp, and on New Year’s Eve, as we moved fast in the direction of the town, our hearts were cheered by the thought of Jameson’s failure, when five years ago he passed along the same road in his notorious Raid.  We all hoped to add an immortal page to the annals of our history on the following New Year’s Day.  But we were sadly disappointed in our expectations.  The Jameson Raid was not avenged, and we celebrated New Year’s Day calmly and peacefully at Cyferbult, on Pretorius’ farm, with milie-pap (maize meal porridge) and beef and—­green fruit!

Whenever we came to a farm we ate as much green fruit as possible by way of a change in our diet.  On other occasions it would have been very bad for us, but now it seemed to have a very wholesome effect.  As we moved on past Zwartkop over the Krokodil River in the direction of the railway, we realized that there was no chance of attacking Krugersdorp for the present, for General Beyers had apparently changed his plans.  We were quite sure that it had originally been his intention, and some of our officers talked of the attack on the town as if it were an open secret.

Our capable Veld-Kornet, Kruger, had remained behind at Zwartkop to get the burghers of Wyk III.  Krugersdorp from out of their hiding-places, as the Generals wanted to concentrate all the small bands for some great undertaking.  We joined Wyk I. Krugersdorp under Veld-Kornet Klaassen.