The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-11-14
The signal had been cleverly maniprl


 lated by a party of Boers, numbering about fifty, who had been lying in wait for us. The moment we slowed dowr the driver was covered by their rifles and we were called upon to alight.
 The passenger train, we learned after ward, had managed to rush the sta tion The Boers had fired upon it, but l the plucky engine-dri put on full l steam and went safely ahead, though he was compelled to leave the guard be- hind. The Boers had then taken pos session of the station, and ordered the man in charge to set the signal at ''stop," in order to check our train. l Our driver ran right into the trap, and we found ourselves prisoners before we well knew what had occurred.
 Directly they had secured the train, the Boers cut the telegraph line and tore up the track. We ourselves were treated we'll though the Field Cornet in l command warned us that any one at tempting to escape would, if dlscovere3, be immediately shot down.
 | |, At the same time he assured us that l the Boers were not savages. Those un- der his charge consisted of Transvaal- | CTS, Free Staters and Dutchmen from Cape Colony, who were British subjects My enforced stay with the enemy was not without its amusing features. | found them a great deal less truculent in manner than in appearance. At first | sight, thanks to the infinite variety of their costumes, they might have been mistaken for a picturesque band of bri- gands. The majority of them were at tired in shirts and trousers, with red ard blue fancy-patterned scarfs, and formidable slouch hats.
 Some of them, the day after the cap ture of the train, when the contents had been footed and shared, came out in the most fantastic garb. Several appeared in military greatcoats and one young fellow strutted about proudly wearing a staff officers cap, while another was considerably inconvenienced by huge sabre clanking at his heels
 But, unsoldiery as they might seem to an eye accustomed to the neatness VI Aldefshot, there was no mistaking their physical fitness. Nearly all of tIlem were strong, powerfully built men while a few were veritable giants
 They were all in the highest spirits. For instance, on the night of our cap ture. the Field Cornet was induced to preside over an impromptu smoking concert. The Boers are extremely fond of music. and it was amusing to see Johannesburger playing the piano, with his gur still slung over lis shoulder, while his more rustic comrades stood round him spellbound Trey sang the Transvaal "Vokslied' with inn ensc fervor and volume of sound.
 The one subject of their talk was their resolute determination to fight to the last for the independence of their coun- try.
 General de Rock with a few guns and fifteen hundred men, including q Ger man contingent, arrived ln camp the same night. It was evident to us, from the conversation of the leaders that battle was impending.
 I and my fellow-prisoners were strict ly warned to remain within doors under guard. During our confinement the proceedings of one or two of the more turbulent Boers caused us some anxie- ty, Two of them actually came to blows in our room, and had to be sepa- rated by force. But the leaders were on the whole, particularly careful to place us under the charge of well-1is- posed and trustworthy men.
 On Friday night our Field Cornct all though nodding in his chair for want of sleep, presided for an hour over another smoking concert, when the utmost 1ola- ty and good will prevailed. We prison- CTS slept on the floor, while the major ity of the Boers withdrew to short | distance from the railway. This morning we were startled by the | sound of the British guns, and began to | hope that there might be prospect of ] reSple or escape Our desire was soon