against, that, humanly speaking, you will be bound to retreat
across the Orange River. Still I trust that you will not follow our
example, but will find the Colony quite large enough to baffle the
enemy in their attempts to capture you. And as the British have
already exerted themselves in vain for over three months to oust
you, we entertain the hope that you will maintain your ground till
reinforced.

"On the 11th of February we, _i.e._, General P. Fourie's division,
crossed the Orange River at Zanddrift, west of Philippolis. De Wet
had taken possession of the drift the previous day, so our way was
open, and as the river was low it was not difficult to ford it.
With the exception of a few mules we sustained no losses. It was
somewhat like a picnic, the burghers were as gay as could be. Being
a very hot day they spent most of the time in the water. The guns
and some other vehicles were dragged through the river by teams
composed of sprightly young men. It was a sight to see 70 or 80 men
before a gun or waggon in the stream. I could not help thinking in
what a plight these would be should the enemy suddenly appear on
the banks of the river. That, indeed, would be a surprise worth
beholding. At sunset we were all on British soil.

"After the burghers had taken supper the whistle was blown and the
oft-repeated command, 'opzaal,' sounded in their ears. That night
we did not make a long trek, for both horses and men felt equally
tired after the day's exertions. Still we had to cover at least
eight miles, for it was not quite safe so near to the river. There
were columns behind and columns in front of us, and columns on
every side. After a wearisome march over a rugged and uneven road,
if road it could be called, with intense darkness enveloping us, we