All this necessitated constant repairing, but on the whole the system proved fairly satisfactory, allowing the Government in Kroonstad to keep in constant touch with the fighting line.

In Natal everything was very quiet; here, on the contrary, the British were pushing forward vigorously.  General Louis Botha came down from Glencoe to aid De Wet, leaving his brother Christian to oppose bulldog Buller, or “Red Bull,” as we called him.

In spite of Louis’ presence the enemy continued to gain ground, and it was not long before Brandfort had to be given up.  The enemy next took Thabanchu, and it became clear that our positions at Menschvretersberg could not be held much longer.  President Steyn himself visited the positions, cheering and encouraging the men, but the strain of attempting to stem the British advance could no longer be sustained.  Within a few days we received orders to retire to Lindley.

Retire!  But how?  We were three, our horses two, our luggage heavy.  By a stroke of luck we managed to hire a cart and two.  Hitching our horses on in front, we had a team of four, and the difficulty was solved.

When driving away from the spot where, in the midst of war’s alarms, I had yet spent some of the happiest hours of my life, I could not help looking back long and earnestly at the beautiful homestead, and wondering what fate held in store for it and its kind-hearted owner, who, always against the war, and weary of sacrifices he deemed useless, had determined to remain behind and surrender to the enemy.  Like many of our best and most progressive men, he had become disgusted with the want of discipline in the ranks, and the painful lack of unanimity amongst the leaders.  Sincere in his convictions, I do not think he could be blamed for acting up to them.  Those who have rightly earned the contempt and hatred of every true Afrikander are those Boers who, not content with deserting, have gone yet further, and attempted to assist the enemy that they were fighting against only the day before.  Even their new masters must surely despise such willing slaves!

Absorbed in these reflections, I yet had time to notice the approach, from the opposite direction, of a Cape cart drawn by six bays.

As the two carts passed each other the team of bays was stopped by a vigorous hand, and President Steyn addressed us, force and determination stamping every word and gesture.

“Good morning!  Why are you leaving already?  I want communication with Kroonstad!”

“Good morning, President.  We had orders to leave at once, but there is an operator in the office still; he will remain till the last moment.”

“Very well; good-bye!” And off he went, the dust clinging to his long brown beard.

We drove on, our four horses trotting merrily along.  We were five in the vehicle, however, including the driver and his little boy, and presently the weight began to tell.  After the first halt one of the leaders failed.