A week afterwards the two forces were able to join hands, and so to completely cut off the Free State from the Transvaal armies.

Hamilton in these operations had the misfortune to break his collar-bone, and for a time the command of his division passed to Hunter--the one man, perhaps, whom the army would regard as an adequate successor.
It was evident now to the British commanders that there would be no peace and no safety for their communications while an undefeated army of seven or eight thousand men, under such leaders as De Wet and Olivier, was lurking amid the hills which flanked their railroad.

A determined effort was made, therefore, to clear up that corner of the country.
Having closed the only line of escape by the junction of Ian Hamilton and of Buller, the attention of six separate bodies of troops was concentrated upon the stalwart Freestaters.

These were the divisions of Rundle and of Brabant from the south, the brigade of Clements on their extreme left, the garrison of Lindley under Paget, the garrison of Heilbron under Macdonald, and, most formidable of all, a detachment under Hunter which was moving from the north.

A crisis was evidently approaching.
The nearest Free State town of importance still untaken was Bethlehem--a singular name to connect with the operations of war.