If the enemy had not retreated that day, or had only occupied a certain brook, through which we had to pass, it would have been impossible for us to escape.  But if there were no ifs there would not have been such a lamentable war in South Africa.  Neither would such unpardonable blunders have been committed.

We were glad that the enemy had allowed us to pass.  That night we crossed the fighting-line near to Sprinkhaan’s Nek, where General De Wet and his men had such a hot reception.

BETWEEN TWO RIVERS AND FIVE COLUMNS.

On the evening of the 14th of March, 1901, my commando crossed the Tarka River, after which Tarka Stad is named.  As heavy rains were falling we bivouacked not far from the river.  There in the veldt, without any shelter, we spent a miserable night, for we were exposed to incessant showers, which drenched us to the very skin.  But there was something even worse in store for us the following day.

Having crossed the Tarka River, we were between that river and another called Vlekpoort River, which flows into the Tarka some six miles from where we had forded the latter.

The following morning we rode to a farm near by.  There we off-saddled, fed our horses, and began to prepare our breakfast.  How stiff, cold and hungry we were!  We could hardly wait until the meat was thoroughly broiled.  Just as we began to satisfy the pangs of hunger the scouts came back, and once more it was “opzaal! opzaal!” (saddle! saddle!).  We knew what it meant.  The enemy was on our heels.

Two columns were on our right flank, between the two rivers.  One had followed us up, and was then on the banks of the Tarka River; another was encamped in front of us on the banks of the Vlekpoort River; whilst a fifth was stationed near the confluence of the two streams.  Thus five columns all around us; and the problem to be solved was, how to get out of the net.

This problem we solved in a practical manner.  We occupied at once the strongest positions we could find, and, fortunately for us, between the rivers were natural positions so strong, that, with a small number of men, it was possible to hold one’s own against great odds.  These positions we seized, and were determined to stand or fall thereby.  We would fight to the last cartridge, and then try and break through the cordon during the night.

In the meanwhile the enemy had drawn nearer.  At about 8 A.M. the fighting commenced.  From different directions shell after shell was hurled upon us.  Again and again the enemy charged us, but was beaten back with greater loss to themselves than to us.  Retreat?  We could not.  Surrender?  That was out of the question; so from morn till sunset we clung to our positions, as though we were tied to them, and defended our persons as resolutely as possible.

Just as the sun was setting we stormed one of the enemy’s positions.  And although three of the burghers were wounded, the rest succeeded in expelling the enemy.  Our way was now open; when darkness set in we could recross the Tarka.  A pom-pom fire was opened upon us from the column on our left flank as we crossed the stream, which was then so high that our horses had to swim.  Owing to the darkness none were injured.