I had no wish that an armoured train should appear and prevent my crossing.
But, before we could reach the railway line a swamp lay in our way.

This swamp was about one thousand paces broad, and was covered knee deep with water, and in some places even deeper; for heavy rain had fallen during the afternoon.

The water, however, would have been a matter of very little consequence, had it not been that the bottom of the swamp was of such a nature that the horses sank in it up to their knees, and even sometimes up to their girths.

But we fourteen hundred riders had to get over it somehow or other! Let the reader try to picture to himself the condition of the swamp when the last burgher had crossed! Many of the men lost their balance as their horses struggled in the mud, and several of the burghers had to dismount and lead their poor tired-out animals.
The guns and the waggons caused us a great deal of trouble.

We inspanned thirty oxen to each gun; but if it got stuck fast in the mud, fifty oxen were sometimes not sufficient to move it.
At last we got the guns through, and succeeded in getting a trolley, and the little waggon which carried my documents and papers, safely to the other side.