We started about 1 p.m. from the Boer camp, passing through the town of Heidelberg.  After going about six to eight miles, I noticed we were not going the right road, and mentioned the fact to the escort, who said it was all right.  Having been ‘look-out’ officer in the Transvaal, I knew the district well.  I was certain we were going wrong, but we had to obey orders.  At nightfall we found ourselves nowhere near the river drift, and were ordered to outspan for the night, and next morning the escort told us they would look for the drift.  Inspanning at daybreak, we again started, but after driving about for some hours across country, I told the escort we would stop where we were while they went to search for the drift.  Shortly after they returned and said they had found it, and we must come, which we did, eventually arriving at the junction of two rivers (Vaal and Klip), where we found the Vaal impassable, but a small punt, capable of holding only two passengers at most, by which they said we must cross.  I pointed out that it was impossible to get my carriage or horses over by it, and that it was not the punt the General said we were to cross.  The escort replied it was Pretorius’s punt that the General told them to take us, and we must cross; that we must leave the carriage behind and swim the horses, which we refused to do, as we then should have had no means of getting on.  I asked them to show me their written instructions, which they did (written in Dutch), and I pointed out that the name of Pretorius was not in it.  I then told them they must either take us back to the Boer camp again or on to the proper drift.  We turned back, and after going a few miles the escort disappeared.  Not knowing where we were, I proposed to Captain Elliott we should go to the banks of the Vaal, and follow the river till we came to the proper punt.  After travelling all Monday, Tuesday, and up till Wednesday about 1 p.m., when we found ourselves four hours, or twenty-five miles, from Spencer’s punt, we were suddenly stopped by two armed Boers, who handed us an official letter, which was opened, and found to be from the Secretary to the Republican Government, stating that the members were surprised that, as officers and gentlemen, we had broken our parole d’honneur, and refused to leave the Transvaal; that if we did not do so immediately by the nearest drift, which the bearers would show us, we must return as prisoners of war; that as through our ignorance of the language of the country there might be some misunderstanding, they were loth to think we had willingly broken our promise.  We explained that we should reply to the letter, and request them to take it to their Government, and were prepared to go with them at once.  They took us back to a farmhouse, where we were told to wait until they fetched their commandant, who arrived about 6 p.m., and repeated to us the same that was contained in our letter of that day.  We told him we were ready to explain matters, and requested