Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15

fourishing his whip to keep my pack animal from
dragging on the mare was riding. In this order we
dashed across to the Shurweburg road, with the
British, at whom took side glance made the
turn, gazing after in astonishment. We were
still within easy rifle range, and they would surely
have brought down if they had not been har
rowed by troubles of their just then, if, in
stead of thinking that were merely scouting
Beers they had entertained any suspicion of our
true identity. At top speed we rounded the ridge
that protected us from their bullets, and then
sackened our pace, laughing nervously at the
rowness of the margin by which we had got away.
Safe Among the Beers Again
NOW we began to look for Beers. On the outskirts
~ of the town, passed houses from which fire
shooting and smoke was pouring. Women and
children about franticay endeavoring to
their household goods. Some stood weeping before
their burning homes, and from these we tried to
obtain information; but. since we had come from
the direction taken by the devastating enemy such
a short time before, they seemed to be afraid we
were spies, and were, besides, too distraught to
answer questions
Being BY no means certain that there not still
force of English in the town, we rode rapidly
through the smoke filled main street. with licking
flames and totterng walls each side of u.s. and
urged our horses up the steep hill that rose just
beyond the settlement. Here we found good
defensive position among the rocks Our tired
when heard a voley from the height above us
Looking hastily in that direction, we saw line OF
Tommies. 1t was apparent, however, that they
had not noticed us, but firing toward dried
creek bed down near the base of the hill. An an
swering volley gave the location of company OF
Beers. After brief exchange of shots the English
seeing that they could not reach their targets In the
spruit, retired beyond the hills crest.
For nearly an hour remained where we were,
fearing that from the distance the Beers would take
us for British scouts if we showed ourselves the
hillside. But after burghers had begun to appear
in the main street of the village Major Pretorlus.
alone and on foot, started down toward them
When he reached the first group there slaps on
backs and general handshaking. At last we We're
among our friends. Gustave and lost time in
following the Ma or and were received with like
More burghers kept coming into town, and they
all marveed at our escape. One company OF them
told us they had seen us from the ridge RIDING
hard toward Shurweburg and that, if somebody had
not called attention to Our pack horses, which the
British never had. they would have shot us from
saddles, not understanding how Beers could be
riding straight out from the English lines For
three days stayed in the half destroyed town,
waiting chiefly for the blacksmith to get his demol-
shed shop in order he could reshoe horses tor
the rough trail of hundred and fifty miles that
yet lay before us to the camp OF General de la Key
Back to Botha with the Reply
TT would take long time to relate experiences
and close calls during the remainder of the journey.
We passed within rifle shot of many British forts
and blockhouses; cut way through wide tangles
of barbed Wire; crossed the strongly guarded johann
neSburg- Pretoria railroad in the night with sweep
ing searchlights playing all around spurred our
horses for lives occasion when just before
dawn, we happened upon the sentrles OF large
force of the enemy and heard the words passing
down long line from lip to lip, Halt! Who
goes there?" Our lucky stars must have been in
the ascendant this expedition They, in COM
bination with determination to push ahead at all
hazards, were what enabled to deliver de-
spatches to de la Rey and to carry his reply to
Botha. Several times any delay or hesitation
our part would have brought to ends.
1t June 70, after seven weeks of hard
riding, during which we commonly spent from four
twenty hours in the saddle, that reported
to General Botha We were with him at the general
council of to which dispatches had sum-
mone1 General de Ia Rev President Steyne of the