biscuit and a half a day and half a tin of 'bully' beef. On such a food
supply as this were our troops expected to perform their terrible march.
Until they passed Jacobsdal they thought they were going to the relief
of Kimberley, but all unknown to them General French's cavalry had
already performed that feat, and the direction of their march was
changed. It was theirs to follow in pursuit of Cronje instead. In one
terrible twenty-four hours they marched thirty-eight miles, and on
Sunday morning, February 18th, they reached Paardeberg. Thoroughly
exhausted, the men flung themselves upon the ground to sleep, but after
two or three hours the artillery fire roused them from their slumbers
and the order came to advance. There was no time for breakfast, and from
five o'clock in the morning until late at night they had to go without
food.

The battle of Paardeberg is not likely to be forgotten by any of those
who were engaged in it. The Boers commanded the left of the Highland
Brigade, and as it advanced on level ground, and destitute of cover, it
was exposed to a terrible fire.

Messrs. Huskisson and Darroll went into the firing line with the
Highlanders. Men fell on all sides of them, and they had numberless
chances of helping the wounded. Of course they had many hairbreadth
escapes during this awful day, but they were abundantly rewarded by the
privilege of straight talk and prayer with the wounded men, who were
thankful indeed for such ministrations as they could offer.

[Footnote 7: _The Surrounding of Cronje_.]


=Relief of the Wounded at Paardeberg.=