About eight o'clock we crossed the line, which was fortunately at that point not as yet guarded by forts, and off-saddled about six miles beyond.

We had eaten nothing since the previous day, and it will easily be understood that we were so hungry that we, as the Boer proverb says,--"could have eaten off a nail's head." There we got some sheep, and it was not long before they were killed, broiled, and eaten; what a meal we made! Towards mid-day we headed once more for the Orange River.

We thought that by the time we arrived it would be fordable, for we had seen on the previous morning that it was falling rapidly, but what was our disappointment! there must have been rain higher up the stream, as the river had become fuller, and there was still no chance of crossing.
The English were approaching.

We had, however, to use our field glasses to enable us to see them, as we were fifteen or sixteen miles in front of them.

Once more there were burghers whose horses were tired and who had to march on foot.