of the Highland Brigade.  ’On Monday, February 12th, they went out, not knowing whither they were going.  Their luggage was limited to changes of socks and shirts and rugs, but at the last moment they managed to get permission to take a little box of food also.  At about five o’clock on Monday afternoon they entrained in open trucks, which were shared alike by officers and men; at about eleven o’clock at night they got out at Enslin, and slept on the veldt surrounded by horses, oxen, and mules.  At four in the morning the whole camp was astir, and by half-past seven the entire force was on the march.’[7]

Then followed the capture of the British convoy, consisting of some two hundred waggons, and meaning to our army the loss of about a million pounds of food.  Every one was put on quarter rations, consisting of a biscuit and a half a day and half a tin of ‘bully’ beef.  On such a food supply as this were our troops expected to perform their terrible march.  Until they passed Jacobsdal they thought they were going to the relief of Kimberley, but all unknown to them General French’s cavalry had already performed that feat, and the direction of their march was changed.  It was theirs to follow in pursuit of Cronje instead.  In one terrible twenty-four hours they marched thirty-eight miles, and on Sunday morning, February 18th, they reached Paardeberg.  Thoroughly exhausted, the men flung themselves upon the ground to sleep, but after two or three hours the artillery fire roused them from their slumbers and the order came to advance.  There was no time for breakfast, and from five o’clock in the morning until late at night they had to go without food.

The battle of Paardeberg is not likely to be forgotten by any of those who were engaged in it.  The Boers commanded the left of the Highland Brigade, and as it advanced on level ground, and destitute of cover, it was exposed to a terrible fire.

Messrs. Huskisson and Darroll went into the firing line with the Highlanders.  Men fell on all sides of them, and they had numberless chances of helping the wounded.  Of course they had many hairbreadth escapes during this awful day, but they were abundantly rewarded by the privilege of straight talk and prayer with the wounded men, who were thankful indeed for such ministrations as they could offer.

[Footnote 7:  The Surrounding of Cronje.]

=Relief of the Wounded at Paardeberg.=

We venture to quote a few paragraphs from a little booklet published by the South African General Mission, entitled The Surrounding of Cronje.  It sets forth in vivid language the heroic work done by these two in the midst of the heat and fury of the battle, and Christian men in all churches will honour the brave men who fought so nobly for God in the interests of those who were fighting so nobly for their country.