From Capetown to Ladysmith: An Unfinished Record of the South African War

ND NAPHTHA FLARES-A CLAMANT WANT OF FIFTY MEN-WHERE ARE

North,

he entrance to the bridge. Twenty yards beyond a second trim black figure with a carbine stamped to and fro over the planking. They were of the Cape Police, and there were f

of 350 men. That night they were to receive 700 or 800 more from Smithfield, and thereon would ride through Aliwal on their way to eat up the British half-battalion at Stormberg. On our side of the bridge slouched a score of Boers-waiting, they said, to join and conduct their

, you've yourselves to blame. I've done my best. With fifty men I'd

he rifles. Every Dutchman's armed, and how

ty in the Free State, and odds are I shall lose every penny I've got-what part? all over

and they're to come here and sjambok the Englishmen who'v

oyal! With

(smoking deep-bowled pipe i

of Lee-Metford). What! Not ke

ey'd cross by the old drift, and be

ing Lee-Metford

us a garrison? Six policemen! Six policemen, gentlemen, and the Bo

the troops? Where are the

and the better for you. The strength of Aliwal is

set man, and general c

ow why the Boers are armed and w

. Are you accus

d man (fa

tting away Lee-Metford). B

e, same as you do. Lived t

. Any trouble

as a good old fellow and an old fri

ere that's friendly with his daughters, and she went out to see t

ks all round! Here's suc

s to the Br

the British Governmen

be just the same as it was in '81. A few reverses and you'll find they'll begin to talk abou

rinks all round! Here's su

s to the Br

, as usual. South Africa's no place for an Englishman to live in. Armoured train blown up, Mafeking cut off, Kimberley in dange

an. It's six

just after the Bloemfontein conference,

had three rifles a man wi

had left three months ago, wouldn't the B

own-faced man

Gentlemen, bedtime! As Brand u

ijt komen! Success to the

loyalists and a refugee spring up and grasp their revolvers. In the morning everybody wakes up unsjamboked. The hotel-keeper takes me

is a nest of green on the yellow veldt, speckless, well-furnished, with Maréchal Niel roses growing over trellises, and a scheme to