The following incident well illustrates the self-possession and presence of mind sometimes displayed by our opponents.  On a certain day two Boer scouts were charged by two of their own men.  The scouts, observing that the two burghers mistook them for enemies, simply dismounted and waited for them.  While the two Boers came tearing up to their own scouts, two of the enemy’s scouts who were not far off, observing these two Boers, took them in their turn for British, and thinking to render them some assistance, likewise charged the Boer scouts.  When they reached the Boer scouts the two burghers had already captured (?) the latter, and had dismounted.  Our friends at once realized their awkward position.  They were in the presence of four Boers.  Escape was out of the question, unless they could get round these Boers in some way or other.  As both of them could talk Dutch, being Colonials, the happy idea struck them at once to try to pose as burghers, for there were several commandoes in that district, and it was just possible that these Boers, in whose hands they now were, would take their word and let them off.  One of them, therefore, on reaching the burghers, very ingeniously remarked, “Well, you know, we actually took you for khakis.”  The other one was not slow to offer the burghers some fruit which he had in his pocket.  And so they began talking to one another in a most familiar way.  One of the Boers, a certain Mr. Bresler, suspected these two unknown friends, and while the other three were conversing with them as they sat on their horses, he (Bresler) kept his eyes on them, and watched their every movement.  At length Bresler said, “Well, you had better go to your commando, or dismount your tired horses.”  Only too glad to get away they replied, “We are going; good-bye,” and off they rode.  “Do you know these fellows?” Bresler asked his comrades, as they were leaving them.  “No,” was the reply.  “Well,” said Bresler, “to be sure, they are British scouts.”  He called them back and asked them to which commando they belonged.  “Potgieter’s” was the answer.  As there was no such commandant, they were immediately arrested.  Had Bresler not been present the probability is that they would have captured the three burghers, for, as they told him, they simply waited for an opportunity to disarm them, but they saw that Bresler was watching them all the time and so could not venture to lift their rifles.

Sport of the most dangerous nature was sometimes indulged in.  Certain Boer officers, and also privates, would risk their lives to have some amusement.  Commandant W. Fouche was one of those who ventured most.  Naturally brave and sometimes even reckless, he would step in almost anywhere.  In the district of Willowmore, Cape Colony, he one evening entered a house where two of the enemy’s scouts were comfortably seated by the side of two young ladies.  He stepped into the room, greeted all, and took a seat next to one of the young ladies.  To chafe