Meanwhile, I went on ahead with my staff, taking with me also Captain Louis Wessels, and five of his men.
About the 15th of March I crossed the railway line, ten miles to the north of Brandfort, during the night.

There we placed some charges of dynamite under the rails, but before we had completed our work, a train came up so quietly that one might call it a "scouting train." It was a dark night, and there was no lantern at the head of the engine, so that we did not see it until it was close upon us.

We had, therefore, no chance to ignite the fuse.

We retired to a distance of about one hundred paces from the line, when a fierce fire was opened upon us from the train.

We replied to this as the train went past, to be succeeded immediately afterwards by a second one.