Theron’s corps now came through from the Transvaal and joined De Wet.  Theron, dissatisfied with his treatment by the Transvaal Government, was here received with open arms.  His hundred and fifty young fellows were as keen as ever; it did one’s eyes good to see one corps at least where discipline was not despised.  Theron was a slightly built young lawyer, with an expression of the deepest sadness, due to the premature decease of his fiancee.  He took care of his men, fed and horsed them well, led them into hot corners and saw them safely out again.  Terrible indeed must be the engagement when one of Theron’s men is abandoned by his comrades.  “No cowards need apply” was the motto of the band, held together by an esprit de corps without equal; and no cowards did.  When the corps passed Frankfort Theron commandeered a horse from an alleged British subject.  The latter threatened to appeal to the Government, and came into town for the purpose, vowing vengeance on Theron’s devoted head.

“I enjoy myself,” said Theron to me, “when they threaten me.  It is when they come to me with soft words that I cannot resist.”

As a matter of fact, the Government sustained Theron’s action, and the owner of the animal was obliged to ask Theron to take two others for it.  This he agreed to do, and thus ended the only instance of which I know in which the Free State Government allowed anything to be commandeered from a British subject.

The capture of the Yeomanry took place about this time.  There have been several attempts to explain this affair.  It was said in our laagers at the time that Colonel Sprague, immediately after his surrender, remarked to our commandant that he would shoot the Lindley telegraphist if he could get hold of him, because the latter had tampered with his message asking for reinforcements.  This was quite possible, for at this time most of the British telegrams passed through our hands before reaching their destination.  If I might venture to express an opinion, formed at the time, I should say that General Colville was absolutely free from any blame in connection with the capture of the Yeomanry—­an incident to which we attached very little importance, being interested merely in the military qualities of our opponents, and in their social rank not at all.

When Rundle’s force was at Senekal and Brabant’s Horse at Harmonia every one of their telegrams was read by a telegraphist attached to one of the commandoes lying in the vicinity.  Several of these messages were in cipher, it is true, but many of them were not.  It was largely owing to information thus obtained that the British sustained a rather severe check when they advanced against our positions near Senekal.  One would think the enemy would have taken strict precautions against their plans leaking out in this manner, but I presume we were considered rather too dense for that kind of thing.