enemy, for the Boers were well aware of the advantages to
be gained from surprising such an enemy as the Matabili. Game was
abundant in the country through which the commando passed, and thus it
was not necessary for the men to burden themselves with much weight in
the form of food; water was at this time of the year plentiful, and thus
the two essentials of life, food and water, were to be obtained with
ease. To men who loved adventure as much as did these men, such an
expedition as this was sport; and had any stranger come to the bivouac
at night, seen the jovial, free-from-care manner of the Boers, and heard
their spirit-stirring tales, he would scarcely have imagined that these
men were bound on a matter of life and death, and were shortly to be
engaged with a brave and powerful enemy, who, though badly armed, still
outnumbered them in the ratio of twenty to one. Of all the party, Hans
Sterk alone seemed quiet and thoughtful; but his look of determination
indicated that his thoughts were certainly not pacific; and when the
evening arrived, and the men halted until the moon rose and enabled them
to continue their journey, none were more active or watchful than Hans
Sterk the elephant hunter.

Five days and nights of rapid travelling brought the Boers within a few
hours' journey of the head-quarters of the Matabili, when it was decided
to halt in order to refresh both men and horses, and to endeavour to
gain such information as to the disposition of the fighting men of the
Matabili, as would enable them to attack the enemy at the weakest point.
Whilst the Boers were thus undecided, they were joined by a party of
about a dozen of their countrymen, who had been on an exploring
expedition, and having left their wives and children with some men as
escort, whilst they departed on a few days' journey, returned to find
their waggons destroyed and their relatives murdered. Hastening with
all speed to their companions, they heard of their departure to attack
the Matabili, and immediately started to join them. On their journey
they had come up with and surprised a party of Matabili, whom they at
once attacked, killing all except one man, whom they made prisoner; this
one man being capable, they thought, of being eventually of use.

Moselekatse had made it law, that any man who was either taken prisoner
or who lost his weapons in a battle, and did not bring those of an
enemy, was no more to be seen in his country. Thus th