The Colonel found an excellent place for us to cross it,
compared to the spot where the Somersets were obliged to plunge in. A
halt was called on the far side, and a scratch meal taken. While thus
employed, some of our troops who had been De Wet's prisoners, amongst
them a couple of our own men, came in. They had been with De Wet's
rearguard, and told us that when Lord Methuen had shelled it the day
before, they had managed to escape; also that the fire of Lord
Methuen's guns had knocked over a Boer gun and exploded one of their
ammunition waggons. They added that De Wet was in command of a very
considerable force, and some distance ahead.

[Illustration: The R.D.F. bathing in Mooi River, Potchefstroom.]

We presently resumed the pursuit, finally camping in some very
desolate country, where the water was scarce and bad. Signs of
over-fatigue and want of sleep were now becoming very apparent, a
large number of men falling out and riding on the waggons. Poor
fellows! they stuck it out as long as ever they could, but their socks
gave out from the constant wettings, and they pitched them away,
marching on in their boots until the pain of the raw chafes became too
much to bear. There was never a grumble or complaint: a man simply
asked to see his Captain, and respectfully said his feet had given
way, and he must regretfully fall out. The officers knew it was true,
and felt for their comrades whose emaciated kits precluded the
possibility of a change. To such a state was the column now reduced
that the General, who had ordered reveille for 2 a.m. the following
morning, actually put it back till 6 o'clock.

The regiment acted as rearguard on the 14th, and did not start till 9
a.m., halting for a short time at mid-day near a blown-up Boer
ammunition waggon. Every conceivable sort and kind of small-arm
ammunition lay scattered around on the veld, and those who were keen
on curios of this description made quite a collection of full and
empty cases.

The battalion lost eleven more mules, the poor brutes simply falling
to the ground from utter exhaustion, being perforce left where they
lay. We arrived in camp at 5.30 p.m., and then for the first time, in
at all events some of our lives, heard two reveilles in one day, the
hated call blaring in our ears at 10.30 p.m. Starting at 12, we pushed
on, belts tightened, teeth clenched, and simply determined _not_ to
give in. We were told that the cavalry brigades had De Wet at last at