Leaving the indomitable guerilla in his hiding-place, the narrative must return to that drawing of the net which still continued in spite of the escape of this one important fish.  On all sides the British forces had drawn closer, and they were both more numerous and more formidable in quality.  It was evident now that by a rapid advance from Bethlehem in the direction of the Basuto border all Boers to the north of Ficksburg would be hemmed in.  On July 22nd the columns were moving.  On that date Paget moved out of Bethlehem, and Rundle took a step forward from Ficksburg.  Bruce Hamilton had already, at the cost of twenty Cameron Highlanders, got a grip upon a bastion of that rocky country in which the enemy lurked.  On the 23rd Hunter’s force was held by the Boers at the strong pass of Retief’s Nek, but on the 24th they were compelled to abandon it, as the capture of Slabbert’s Nek by Clements threatened their rear.  This latter pass was fortified most elaborately.  It was attacked upon the 23rd by Brabant’s Horse and the Royal Irish without success.  Later in the day two companies of the Wiltshire Regiment were also brought to a standstill, but retained a position until nightfall within stone-throw of the Boer lines, though a single company had lost 17 killed and wounded.  Part of the Royal Irish remained also close to the enemy’s trenches.  Under cover of darkness, Clements sent four companies of the Royal Irish and two of the Wiltshires under Colonel Guinness to make a flanking movement along the crest of the heights.  These six companies completely surprised the enemy, and caused them to hurriedly evacuate the position.  Their night march was performed under great difficulties, the men crawling on hands and knees along a rocky path with a drop of 400 feet upon one side.  But their exertions were greatly rewarded.  Upon the success of their turning movement depended the fall of Slabbert’s Nek.  Retief’s Nek was untenable if we held Slabbert’s Nek, and if both were in our hands the retreat of Prinsloo was cut off.

At every opening of the hills the British guns were thundering, and the heads of British columns were appearing on every height.  The Highland Brigade had fairly established themselves over the Boer position, though not without hard fighting, in which a hundred men of the Highland Light Infantry had been killed and wounded.  The Seaforths and the Sussex had also gripped the positions in front of them, and taken some punishment in doing so.  The outworks of the great mountain fortress were all taken, and on July 26th the British columns were converging on Fouriesburg, while Naauwpoort on the line of retreat was held by Macdonald.  It was only a matter of time now with the Boers.