There we off-saddled.
Now I had sent out scouts--not, however, Commandant Jan Theron's men, but ordinary burghers whom the Commandants had sent out--and just as we had partaken about noon of a late breakfast, these burghers came hurriedly into the camp, shouting: "The enemy is close at hand!" It was not long before every one had up-saddled, and we were off.

The English had taken up positions on the kopjes due north of the Vaal River, whilst we had for our defence only kraals and boundary walls.

As these offered no shelter for our horses, we were forced to retreat.

And a most unpleasant time of it we had until we got out of range of their guns and small arms.

During this retreat we lost one of our guns.