But the ammunition and flour-waggons were impossible to move when they had once entered the swamp.
It was a night which I shall never forget! We had now to determine what we should do with the waggons.

The day would soon break and we could only cross the railway line when darkness covered our movements.

It would be disastrous to us if, while we were still between the swamp and the railway, troops should be brought up by rail from De Aar and Hopetown.
It was perfectly clear that those who had crossed the swamp must go on.
And so I advanced, at the same time giving General Fourie orders to remain behind with a hundred of the men whose horses were less exhausted than those of the other burghers, and to try to get the waggons through.
In the event of the enemy arriving before his task was completed, I told him to leave the waggons and make his escape to the south.
Having given these orders, I proceeded with my commando to the railway line.

Only the weakest of the horses were with us, so that many of my burghers had to go on foot.
The ninety prisoners we had taken were with me.

I could not release them, because I did not want them to tell the enemy how exhausted our horses were.