p was
situated extended down to the railway, and was the nearest point to
the river. For some days the Boers, under De Wet, had been gathering
round this position, and the force had been subjected to a constant
shell-fire and the intermittent attentions of a particularly
aggressive and unlocatable pompom. Under the railway, about midway
between General Barton's two main positions, ran a small, dry donga.
Into this underfeature De Wet had ordered about 200 men on the night
of the 24th-25th. The first indication of their presence was a
somewhat foolish attempt made by them to capture some mules. Unaware
of their numbers--and truly the situation was such that any one could
be pardoned for not grasping it at once--a company or part of a
company was sent forward to dislodge them and clear up matters. The
Boers allowed them to approach quite close, and then annihilated them.
It was now very evident that the donga was held in force, and, as the
General was aware by this time of the arrival of Colonel Hicks'
column, he launched a vigorous attack. This was the heavy firing we
heard on our arrival. After offering a slight resistance, some of the
enemy surrendered, the remainder flying on foot as already stated to
their horses, which they had left amongst the trees near the river. It
is not often the Boer leaves his horse thus, and it offered strong
presumptive evidence of their confidence in their ability to rush the
position, in accordance with De Wet's intention.

The battalion bivouacked on the hill, and threw out outposts. To them
was also assigned next morning the intensely unpleasant duty of
shooting three prisoners who had been tried and found guilty of
showing the white flag and afterwards resuming their fire. 'G'
company, being the nearest piquet to the place selected for the
execution, was detailed to carry it out. The casualties on our side
had been about forty-one killed and wounded, while twenty-four Boers
were killed, sixteen wounded, and twenty-six taken prisoner.

[Illustration: Sergeant French and the Officers' Mess, Nachtmaal.]

After remaining at Frederickstadt on the 26th, orders came for our
return to Krugersdorp on the 27th. We had an uneventful march to
Wolverdiend, and there entrained, reaching our destination late in the
evening. The officers, as usual, rode in the guard's van, and, as
these trains used to bump and jolt in the most unpleasant manner, we
made ourselves as comfortable as we could in a so