From there we went on next morning to the west of Rheboksfontein, remaining that night at Winkeldrift, on the Rhenoster River.
There I received a report that President Steyn with his staff was coming from Machadodorp, where he had met the Transvaal Government.

The President requested me to come and see him, and also to meet General De la Rey, who would be there.
I told the commandos to go on in the direction of Bothaville and went with my staff to the President.

We met on the 31st of October near Ventersdorp.

From him I heard that when he came to Machadodorp President Kruger was just ready to sail from Lourenco Marques, in the man-of-war _Gelderland_, which had been specially sent by Queen Wilhelmina to bring him over to the Netherlands.

This was shortly before Portugal ceased to be neutral--the old President got away only just in time.
General De la Rey had been prevented from coming: and on the 2nd of November I went with the President towards Bothaville.
I had received reports from General Fourie, Judge Hertzog, and Captain Scheepers, that the burghers in their districts had rejoined; this made me think that the time had now come to make another dash into Cape Colony.