Early the next morning I started, making straight for the intermediate station.

After three hours’ riding I met a mounted policeman riding at full speed, or the best imitation of it that his mount could produce.  “The English are coming!” was all he uttered as he passed by.  When I reached the farmhouse I heard shots falling just beyond the hill.  The womenfolk on the farm were in a pitiful state of distress.  They had ornamented the roof of the house with a white flag, following the custom then prevailing in those parts threatened by the enemy.

“They’ve been fighting all the morning,” they said, wiping their eyes, “and now our men are retreating.  Whatever will become of us?”

I stabled my horse, walked to the fence, attached the vibrator, and called up Heilbron.  No reply.  The line was down again!

This discovery put me into a pretty bad temper.  Presently about a dozen Boers came galloping along from the fighting line.  On seeing me, the leader reined in and shouted—­

“What the devil is this?  What are you doing here?” He took me for an Englishman, and thought this a good opportunity to gain distinction.  Thoroughly roused by his bullying tone, I retorted—­

“And who the devil are you?  And where the devil are you running away to in such a hurry?”

Taken aback, he faltered—­

“Oh, I have orders from my commandant, which I must keep secret.”

“Yes, I know your kind of orders.  Get away, and don’t interfere with men who are doing their duty.”  The band thereupon cleared off.  Then a despatch rider came dashing up, his splendid black entire specked with foam.

“I have an urgent despatch for the Government,” he said, after we had made ourselves known to each other, “but my mount is about done up after all the riding about I have done away on our left.”

“Give it me,” I said; “I’ll repair the line and send it through.”

He handed me the message, and we walked over to the farmhouse.  Whilst we were drinking a cup of coffee crowds of burghers rode past in retreat.  Nearly every one stopped and asked for a glass of milk, a loaf of bread, or a few eggs.  Their wants were supplied as far as possible.  In every case money was offered, and in every case it was refused.

With the despatch in my pocket I could not delay, so I took my nag and rode back along the fence.  The very first test I made I found the line in order again.  I transmitted the despatch, adding that there was nothing to stop the enemy from taking Heilbron that night.  This news caused some consternation, as may be imagined, and the Government left Heilbron immediately.

When I had finished I saw coming towards me a young Free Stater, who had been sent out from Heilbron to remove the fault, which he had succeeded in doing.

“Let’s go back to the farmhouse after sunset,” I said, “and see if the British are there already.”