Hardly had I given the order, when a number of young burghers sprung on their horses and galloped at break-neck pace towards the kraals.
And now there was an end to all boasting, for without firing a single shot the enemy surrendered.
We took twenty prisoners there, and an equal number of rifles and bandoliers.

The horses we captured--again twenty in number--were in excellent condition, and all up-saddled.

We now had made ninety men our prisoners since we crossed the Orange River.
The joy of the Broodspioen, who had been for fifty minutes in the hands of the English, was very great; and I believe he never returned again to his very doubtful profession.
The following day we came to a farm about six miles to the east of Houtkraal Station, which we christened Moddervlei,[87] on account of the experience we had on the night following our arrival.
The great English force was close behind us, and when night fell the enemy were not more than five miles from us.
It was at the hour of sunset, shortly before we came to the swamp, which I shall presently describe, that my scouts came across fifteen of the enemy.

When the English saw our men they turned round at once.

But they did not get away before one was shot from his horse, and another seriously wounded, and several of them taken prisoner.
I now sent two patrols to blow up the railway, seven miles at each side of the point where I intended to cross.