he was no more among the living.

The battle had begun. Scarcely 100 paces from the banks of the brook
stood five of the enemy's guns and more than 100 waggons. Some 400 paces
from these two more guns had stopped. The enemy had withdrawn for cover
about 1300 yards to the station on the Dewetsdorp-Bloemfontein railway.

[Illustration: SANNA'S POST--Plan of Battle.]

It was while they were retreating to this station that the greatest
havoc was wrought among them. Across the open plain, with no cover at
all, they had to retreat, and before they reached the place of shelter
the ground between the brook and the station was thickly strewn with
their dead and wounded. It was, indeed, a ghastly scene. The burghers
stood erect and fired on the retreating foe as though they were so much
game. So quickly did the waggons and guns wheel round that many were
overturned. To remove them was impossible. In vain did the English try
to save the guns. They succeeded, however, in getting two to the station
house, where they had rallied. With these they bombarded us for some
time; but owing to our sheltered positions only two men were wounded.

The Boer forces on the east of the Modder River had in the meanwhile
been doing their best to come to the assistance of General De Wet. But
their progress was much retarded by the uneven veldt and dongas through
which they had to ride. After three hours, spent in fruitless attempts,
they forded the river, attacked the enemy with great energy, and
succeeded in putting them to flight, and this brought the battle to an
end.

We made 480 captives. What their losses in wounded and killed were is