with historical authors, to conjure up thrilling pictures--imaginary
things--and put them together merely to make up a book or to make a name
for themselves. That be far from me! In publishing my book (although it
is written in simple style) _I had one object only_, viz., to give to
the world a story which, although it does not contain the whole of the
truth, as regards this wondrous war, yet contains nothing but the
truth.

The original has been written by me in Dutch, and I can therefore not be
answerable for its translation into other languages.

C. R. DE WET.




Contents


CHAPTER PAGE

I. I GO ON COMMANDO AS A PRIVATE BURGHER 3

II. NICHOLSON'S NEK 13

III. LADYSMITH BESIEGED 19

IV. I AM APPOINTED VECHTGENERAAL 22

V. THE OVERWHELMING FORCES OF LORD ROBERTS 26