eered. With these, some
120, who were almost all unarmed, De Wet started for Dewetsdorp to watch
the movements of the British.

Early on the 2nd of April the enemy left Dewetsdorp, and resumed their
march to Reddersburg. While marching De Wet kept them all the while
under surveillance. He was moving on one of their flanks, parallel to
them with an intervening distance of six miles. They were evidently not
aware that he was so close to them. As soon as we received the report
concerning the British, we left Sanna's Post in haste. We required no
urging on. For were we not encouraged by our recent success, and was
there not every chance of achieving another? We left Sanna's Post a
little before sunset, and that whole night we rode on without
off-saddling once. We did not halt save for a few minutes to rest our
horses.

Early the following morning a third report, pressing us to increase our
speed and leave behind those whose horses were too tired to proceed
rapidly, reached us. De Wet was most anxious to occupy a ridge in front
of the enemy, between the farms Mostert's Hoek and Sterkfontein. The
road leading to Reddersburg from Dewetsdorp traverses this ridge. Hence
it was absolutely necessary to seize it before the enemy if we were to
intercept them.

So on we went, leaving the weary and exhausted behind to follow on as
soon as possible. About 9 A.M. Generals Froneman and De Villiers, with
350 men, met De Wet, who was still moving parallel to the British
column, obscured from their view by a rising of the ground.

The ridge referred to already loomed now in the distance. We were all
fiercely anxious to seize it before the enemy. For it was a question of
life and death who was to be first there. But our horses were too tired,
and began to fall out rapidly. We were still four miles from the ridge
when the English began to occupy the eastern extremity of it. We moved
on to the western extremity, and reached it in time.

The enemy, however, had the advantage of the best positions, but was
fortunately cut off from the water. We were resolved to hem them in
completely, for we knew that, if no relieving forces arrived, they would
be compelled by thirst alone, if nothing else, to surrender.

Before commencing the fight, De Wet, anxious as usual to avoid
unnecessary bloodshed, sent the following note to the commanding
officer:--

"SIR,--I am here with 500 men, and am every moment expecting
reinforcements with thre