It was half-past two o'clock.
These two days cost us twenty killed, among them six Europeans, and about fifty wounded, of whom twenty were Europeans.
Scarcely had we got beyond range, when we met Botha, who posted us on a little slope. There were about sixty of us. Then Botha went off. When he had disappeared, a Burgher went slowly up to his horse, mounted it, and left the field. Another followed him, just as slowly, then a third. Soon there were only about fifteen Europeans left.
We could see nothing on the horizon, neither convoy nor retreating troops. We in our turn departed, saluted by a few shells.
Here and there a few wounded, and one or two men who had lost their horses, were going away. No one knew what had become of the army.
IX
At last we meet General Olivier's troops, marching to the north-west. They appear to know nothing of the battle. Scarcely have we gone 100 metres with them before we are stopped by a battery, which opens fire upon us. The English form a semicircle round us. The situation is serious. We make off across the Veldt, towards the east, till far on in the night. We sleep on the ground, keeping a sharp look-out.
On the next day, Tuesday, at dawn, we set out again, describing a wide circle, first to the east, then to the north, and finally to the west. It proved lucky for us that we had done so, for we were behind the English columns marching on Brandfort and Winburg.
Finally, always making our way across the Veldt, we arrived at Brandfort on the 4th about eight o'clock in the morning.
Oh, how thankful we were to be in our camp and in our tents again! What a tub we had! what a breakfast! and what a sleep we look forward to when night comes!