uncomfortable situation! We fought until it was quite dark; then the
firing ceased, and we had time to plan an escape. And this is what we
did. At 11 o'clock that evening numerous fires were kindled on the top
of the mountain. We knew that these fires would be misleading; the
enemy, as long as they saw the lights, would think that we were still on
the mountain, and, being less watchful, we might slip through.

At 12 o'clock we saddled. We were going to try to pass through the
enemy's line. On we rode, silently and guided by the sentinels' fires;
we knew exactly which spots to avoid. Every moment brought us nearer to
our doom or deliverance. Shall we succeed or not? we anxiously asked
ourselves. Unnoticed we passed the foe and were free once more.

The next morning only the ashes of our fires were surrounded. As a
shower of rain had fallen the same night, wiping out the footprints of
our horses, the British certainly wondered what became of us. The Boers
had again disappeared so mysteriously.

I shall conclude this chapter with two striking incidents. On the 13th
of August, 1901, we came in conflict with the British forces in the
district of Venterstad, Cape Colony. During the engagement I observed
that the enemy was bent on a certain position which, if seized, would
enable them to surround us. Now the Boer never likes to be surrounded.
There is nothing that he dreads so much as a siege. To keep my way open,
I took a number of burghers, and with these occupied the position
referred to. Having stationed them there I rode back to the hill where I
had been before. Unfortunately this hill had been deserted in the
meanwhile, and was then held by the enemy.

Seeing a number of horses at the base of the hill I concluded that the