"De Wet had now decided to fall back on the Orange Free State. To
many of us this was a bitter disappointment; but we saw that
nothing else could be done under the circumstances. With tired
horses and many burghers on foot we could not hope to circumvent
the enemy. Others, especially those who had suffered most in
walking, were enraptured at the idea of going back to the Free
State. Their drooping spirits revived, and with renewed courage
they started on the homeward march.

"The whole of that night we trekked along the banks of the Orange
River, parallel to the British columns. We tried one ford after the
other, but to our dismay the stream was impassable. The following
day we were not only behind the enemy, but had outstripped them by
nine miles. To gain more on them we kept up the march almost
unbroken the whole day. And what a day it was! We had to walk from
twelve to fifteen miles without a drop of water. Once we came to a
forsaken well. The water was of a greenish hue, bitter and
stagnant--a real Marah--but we drank to quench our thirst and
moisten our parched lips.

"On the 22nd we had proceeded to a point six miles beyond the
confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. Here we found a small
boat, and began at once to transport the dismounts. We knew that
these, once across the river, would be in a safer position. Day and
night we were engaged in taking these over; but the work progressed
very slowly, for the boat could only take ten or twelve men at a
time, and, besides, was so leaky that two had constantly to throw
out the water. After 250 men had been ferried across the stream the
approach of the enemy was announced, and so near were they that