the wake of an army of about 50,000 men, however, one would
scarcely expect water to remain unstirred or unpolluted. I always found
my tea or coffee more enjoyable when the water for it was drawn by
somebody else. Even though that comrade would jestingly call it
"Bovril," and unnecessarily explain that the pool it came from contained
two dead horses and an ox.

One more extract and I have done.

"Yesterday (Friday, May 25th) we got as far as Leeum Spruit. So
far they had succeeded in getting the railway in working order,
but there the scene was one of utter destruction, three or four
bridges being blown up, and the rails all twisted and sticking up
in the air. Hundreds of Kaffirs were at work getting things
straight, which to any ordinary person would seem impossible.

"It is a marvellous sight to see the convoys toiling in the track
of Roberts' army, the blown-up bridges and rails, and the
deserted farms. Of course, some are still inhabited. It may
interest linguists and admirers of Laurence Sterne to know that
the language of the British Army in South Africa is the same as
it was with our army in Flanders in Uncle Toby's days--of course,
allowing for an up-to-date vocabulary.

"Sunday, May 27th.--Up with the unfortunate early worm, as usual.
Our _reveille_ generally consists of a shout and a kick, as our
bugle is not used. It seems hard to realise that to-day is
Sunday, and while the church bells at home are ringing, or the
service is in progress, we dirty, unshaven beings, who once had
part in the far-away life, are either riding or leading our
horses across the flat and, in many places, charred veldt, past
blown-up bridges, torn-up rails, convoys leisurely drawn by
languid oxen, demolished houses, bleached bones of oxen, horses
and mules, as well as the so-often-alluded-to dead beasts known
by Tommy as 'Roberts' Milestones,' and all that goes to
war--glorious war. We are making a fairly long march to-day, as
we hope to catch Roberts at last. Anyhow, to-night should see us
at the frontier--the Vaal River."

PART I.

ON THE TREK.

WITH ROBERTS.

THE OCCUPATION OF JOHANNESBURG.

ORANGE GROVE,
NEAR JOHANNESBURG.
_Saturday, June 2nd, 1900._

O