coveted was abandoned; it was for us to seize it at once. With a
little encouragement the charge was repeated, the hill taken, and
in less than twenty minutes the white flag announced the surrender
of Spragge's column.

"Between 60 and 70 of the enemy were wounded and killed, while the
rest were made prisoners. It was their first interview with the
Boers. After a four days' siege a bath and a good meal must have
been welcome.

"From the veldt we took our surrendered friends to the village. The
wounded were placed in the local hospital, and the officers found
lodgings for the night in an hotel.

"I escorted Spragge to the village. On the way he had a long talk
with me about the war, and wished to know why the Free State had
cast in her lot with the Transvaal. He failed to see, and had to be
reminded that Free Staters and Transvaalers were essentially one
people; that the Vaal River divides the two States, but not the
people, as far as blood was concerned.

"On being asked why they had evacuated the hill, which was their
chief stronghold, he replied: 'That was a mistake.' We do not
object to such mistakes. If this had not been committed, Spragge
would in all probability have remained a free man, and his column
would not have fallen into our hands, for that was our last and
only chance. Early the next morning the reinforcements appeared on
the adjacent hills, but they were too late to rescue Spragge's
column. The prisoners were sent on to Reitz, and from there to the
Transvaal."