A little before sunset the ominous Cape Railway line stared us in the face.  We were again precisely in the same plight as on the 15th of August, when we had to cut the wire near Springfontein Junction, only with this difference—­that the danger was much more imminent, the enemy forming a semi-circle at my back, and before me was a line more strongly fenced and better guarded than the first.  But happily the armoured train was not on the scene.  As we were so successful in our first undertaking, we determined to pass the enemy’s line again in daylight.  In fine, we had to cut the wire or surrender.  The latter was more repulsive than the former.

As my commando was now very near the line, there was not a moment to lose.  The enemy was advancing swiftly, and the armoured train might appear at any time.  Commandant Louis Wessels, Veldt Cornet Fraser, Landman and myself proceeded with the utmost speed ahead of the commando to cut the wire, in order that the progress of the commando should not be impeded in the least.

As we approached the line a sharp cross-fire from the blockhouses was directed against us; but we all reached the fence safely and began cutting the wire as quickly as possible.

The enemy, knowing only too well who were trying to cut the wire, poured volley after volley upon us.  The bullets seemed to strike everywhere and everything but ourselves.  Let the reader imagine himself exposed to such a fire, between two forts about 800 yards apart on a level track of ground, and forming there in the centre a target for rifles, and he will realise, to some extent, our situation at that moment.  But this was not all.  To intensify our peril we met with thick steel wire which the scissors refused to cut.  We were delayed; the whole commando arrived, and was checked by this wire.

What an embarrassment!  I ordered the men to spread, dismount, and fire at the blockhouses until we had done the cutting.  This was promptly done.  Having, been exposed to the enemy’s fire for some minutes, we succeeded at last in cutting that wire also.  I then signalled the men to pass.  And once more the incredible occurred.  On a plain between blockhouses 800 yards apart, exposed to an incessant cross-fire, all the burghers passed the line, in broad daylight, without receiving so much as a scratch.  Some horses were shot down, others were wounded, but the men crossed safely.  Some distance from the line Lieutenant Bolding was wounded mortally.

I waited at the line till all, with the exception of eight or ten whose horses had given in, were over and then followed the commando.  But looking back once more, I beheld one of my men trudging on foot across the line.  At once I decided to go back and lend him a helping hand.  I rode back, and was again exposed to the same fire from which we had just escaped.  This time there was to be no escape.  While returning, one of my officers—­Fraser—­who saw me going back, came to volunteer his services.  He would not have me exposed to the enemy’s fire, and urged me to go back immediately—­he would see to the burgher.