Darkness Proves my Salvation Commandant Hasebroek held the enemy in check whilst we continued our march to a place called Vrouwpan.

On the following day we struck the Brak River at a point ten miles south-east of its confluence with the Orange River, to the east of Prieska.

It was not fordable, and we had to off-saddle.
There was absolutely no chance of getting across--the best of swimmers would have been helpless in that swollen torrent, which rushed down to the Orange River, its great waves roaring like a tempestuous sea.
About two hours before sunset Commandant Hasebroek reported that the English were rapidly approaching.

The question was, "Which way shall we go ?" It was impossible to escape either to the south of the river or in the direction of the enemy, for the veldt was too flat to afford us any cover.

If we were not to be cornered against an impassable torrent, we must make our way down stream to the north-west; and even then we should be in danger of being driven on to the Orange River, which was only ten miles distant.