Our only safety lay in flight.
We knew very well that an Englishman cannot keep up with a Boer on the march, and that if he tries to do so, he soon finds that his horses and oxen can go no further.

Our intention was then to march at the very best pace we could, so that the enemy might be forced to stop from sheer exhaustion.

And as the reader will soon see, our plan was successful.
Nevertheless we had to do some fighting, to protect our laager from a force of cavalry that was rapidly coming up with us.
They wanted to make an end of this small body of Boers, which was always retreating, but yet, now and again, offering some slight resistance--this tiny force that was always teaching them unpleasant lessons; first at Retiefsnek, then to the north of Lindley, then on the railway line, then near Vredefort, then at Rhenosterpoort, and then again at Tijgerfontein.

Yes; this sort of thing must come to an end once for all! We attacked the approaching troops, and succeeded in checking their advance.

But our resistance could not last long, and soon we had to retreat and leave one of our Krupps behind us.
Had I not continued firing with my Krupp until it was impossible to save it, then, in all probability, the laager would have been taken.