Rain had also been falling in torrents, and most of the men were wet to the skin, for very few of them had waterproofs.

And to make matters still worse, the burghers were covered with the mud from the swamp that still clung to them.
Twenty-four hours had passed without the men being able to lie down and rest; and sleep, of course, had been entirely impossible.
Three miles beyond the railway line I gave orders to off-saddle, although there was no grass for the horses.

Hardly had we dismounted when I was told that we should find grass about one hour's ride further on.

And so we mounted again, fatigued though we were, and found pasture at last for the poor animals.

I thought it better that the masters should endure more hardships than that the horses should go without grass.