The Boers had evidently never expected the column to be in the town, or they would have cleared off.

We had a last glimpse of the tarpaulined waggons, and then the dust hid further developments from sight.

After about thirty minutes the artillery ceased firing, and as the atmosphere cleared we saw the laager was a desert.

Waggons, horses, and cattle, all had vanished.
After their exertions of the past fortnight, Colonel Mahon did not consider it wise to pursue the retreating Boers; but later in the afternoon I went out with others in a cart to where the laager had been--the first time since December that I had driven beyond our lines.
I had the new experience of seeing a "loot" in progress.

First we met two soldiers driving a cow; then some more with bulged-out pockets full of live fowls; natives were staggering under huge loads of food-stuffs, and eating even as they walked.