When we had been at Winburg, the pasture had been very poor although it had rained every day.

This, of course, was very good for the veldt; but unfortunately it did not rain grass--the veldt required time to produce it.
All this was most unlucky.

Already some of my men had to go on foot, and there were no horses to be obtained in that district.
The number of my burghers had now been diminished by nearly six hundred men.

Commandant Prinsloo had remained behind with three hundred men, Vice-Commandant Van Tonder with one hundred, and lastly, Commandant De Vos at the Orange River with two hundred.
There was now only one course open to us--and that was to cross as quickly as possible the railway line near Hopetown, for if an English force was brought down by rail, it would mean our utter destruction.
We accordingly moved away at once from Hondeblaf River.

The following day the English were again hot on our track.