If any one had asked them whether they were ready to undergo any further hardships, they would have replied that a hundred swamps would not discourage them.

They knew that freedom was a pearl of such value that no man since the world began had been able to set a price upon it.
When General Fourie had abandoned the waggons, he retreated to the south, crossing the railway at De Aar.

He joined me again near Petrusville when I was returning to the Free State.
As the English had to march round the swamp, leaving their waggons behind, we were not pressed for time, or obliged to march very far.

We took advantage of this respite to give our horses a little rest.
I now proceeded to the west of Hopetown, in the direction of Strijdenburg.

The following day the English were again on our heels in greater numbers than ever, and advancing more speedily than before.