At the drift stood the generals, scanning the hills and undulations with their glasses.  Small fires appeared in the east near the tall white stack.  “They are preparing their breakfast,” some one suggested.  “I see a few tents,” another one reported excitedly.  All eyes were turned in the direction indicated.  Some estimated the intervening distance at a mile, others were positive it was not more than a thousand yards—­it was not light enough to distinguish accurately.  “Tell the burghers that I will fire the first shot,” said General De Wet to one of his staff.  Immediately the order was spread to the men in the spruit.  “I see men leading oxen to the waggons; they are preparing to trek,” remarked a commandant.  “They are coming down this way,” announced another, slapping his thigh joyfully.

A few minutes afterwards clouds of dust arose, and at intervals the waggons in the van could be seen coming down the slope toward the drift.  The few tents fell, and men in brown uniforms moved hither and thither near the waterworks building.  Waggon after waggon joined in the procession; drivers were shrieking and wielding their whips over the heads of the oxen, and farther behind were cavalrymen mounting their horses.  It was daylight then, although the sun was still below the horizon, and the movements of the enemy could be plainly discerned.  The ox-teams came slowly down the road—­there seemed to be no limit to their number—­and the generals retreated down the drift to the bottom of the spruit, so that their presence should not be discerned by the enemy, and to await the arrival of the waggons.

The shrieking natives drew nearer, the rumbling of the waggons became more distinct, and soon the first vehicle descended the drift.  A few burghers were sent forward to intercept it.  As soon as it reached the bottom of the spruit the men grasped the bridles of the horses, and instantly there were shrieks from the occupants of the vehicle.  It was filled with women and children, all pale with fright on account of the unexpected appearance of the Boers.  The passengers were quickly and gently taken from the waggon and sent to places of safety in the spruit, while a burgher jumped into the vehicle and drove the horses up the other drift and out upon the open veld.  The operation of substituting drivers was done so quickly and quietly that none of those approaching the drift from the other side noticed anything extraordinary, and proceeded into the spruit.  Other burghers stood prepared to receive them as they descended the drift with their heavily laden ammunition and provision waggons, and there was little trouble in seizing the British drivers and placing the whips into the hands of Boers.  Waggon after waggon was relieved of its drivers and sent up to the other bank without creating a suspicion in the minds of the others who were coming down the slope from the waterworks.