The following two days we remained in the village, keeping the enemy at bay.  We had hoped that eventually their rations would run short, and thus bring about their surrender.  Unfortunately our hopes were not to be realised; they were only too well provided.  Then, again, we thought that thirst might prove an irresistible force in our favour; but in this, too, we erred, for in their grottoes was abundant water.

On the second day of the attack we placed one of our guns in the centre of the village, whence we shelled the enemy’s forts, but all to no purpose.  On the evening of the third day we heard that relieving forces were at hand, and as we had received a message from De Wet to meet him in Bothaville district, we left Ladybrand at dusk.

During the three days’ fighting only a few burghers were wounded.  As the enemy fired at random into the village, some of the inhabitants were also injured.  A young man was mortally wounded, while a bullet shattered the arm of a woman.

Our efforts were rewarded by the seizure of the enemy’s horses, which we valued even more than their persons.  The horses we could keep and use, the men we had to dismiss again.  We returned to the laager well supplied with clothes and foodstuffs.  But for some traitors, who assisted the enemy, the garrison would in all probability have fallen.  These, dreading the results of a capitulation, held out until relieved.

As this was our first visit to Ladybrand since its occupation, the joy of the Boer families in meeting relatives and burghers was indeed great.  They welcomed them with open arms, and during their short stay it was their delight to minister unto them.  We shall ever gratefully remember the hearty reception which was extended to us by the Ladybrand Africanders.  Were they not prosecuted after our departure for welcoming and receiving their kith and kin?

MURRAY’S COLUMN.

Compelled to abandon the Cape Colony in August, we went to Gastron District, a Free State village situated on the Basutoland border.  There we intended to rest our horses for a time; but no sooner had we entered the district than the English column came pouring into it like so many birds of prey.  They had concentrated in that district and in the adjoining ones to clear them, i.e., to remove or destroy whatever could be removed or destroyed.

During this time we often came in conflict with the enemy.  It was impossible to avoid that; they were on every side.  For miles and miles it was one column on the other.  We could hardly engage any of these columns successfully during the day, for no sooner had the fight begun than reinforcements would come from all directions, making our position quite untenable.

It was in such circumstances that we planned a night attack on one of the English camps nine miles east of Gastron.  We had engaged the enemy on several occasions without desirable results.  Our limited supply of ammunition was gradually exhausted.  Come what would, we were bound to strike a blow at the enemy, so as to fill our bandoliers once more.  The night was the only time we could hope to succeed.  Reinforcements would not then scatter us before we had achieved our object.