The infantry now, as always in the campaign, marched excellently; for though twenty miles in the day may seem a moderate allowance to a healthy man upon an English road, it is a considerable performance under an African sun with a weight of between thirty and forty pounds to be carried.

The good humour of the men was admirable, and they eagerly longed to close with the elusive enemy who flitted ever in front of them.

Huge clouds of smoke veiled the northern sky, for the Boers had set fire to the dry grass, partly to cover their own retreat, and partly to show up our khaki upon the blackened surface.

Far on the flanks the twinkling heliographs revealed the position of the wide-spread wings.
On May 10th Lord Roberts's force, which had halted for three days at Smaldeel, moved onwards to Welgelegen.

French's cavalry had come up by road, and quickly strengthened the centre and left wing of the army.