The Wepener siege had been raised and the force in front of Rundle had disappeared as only Boer armies can disappear.

The combined movement was an admirable piece of work on the part of the enemy.

Finding no force in front of them, the combined troops of French, Rundle, and Chermside occupied Dewetsdorp, where the latter remained, while the others pushed on to Thabanchu, the storm centre from which all our troubles had begun nearly a month before.

All the way they knew that De Wet's retreating army was just in front of them, and they knew also that a force had been sent out from Bloemfontein to Thabanchu to head off the Boers.

Lord Roberts might naturally suppose, when he had formed two cordons through which De Wet must pass, that one or other must hold him.