The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1900-10-05 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

GENTLEMAN  IN KHAKI."  JOIN OAKLEY.  CHAPTER LNIII.--THE FIGHT AT THE FARM.  - --Reginald end hi* Colonials had formed part of the cavalry brigade with which General French so cleverly ejected the Boers from their trenches at Itsfontein. and after the rout he had been sent on rhead to locate the mein body of the enemy, who, as French shrewdly euspected had but fallen back te take up another ecie,Fion between the invading force and the capital. Reginald had pushed forward with about fifty men, keeping a bright look-out and ready at the first sign of life to fall bug: on Fis mein body which was about a quarter of a mile behind. But he met nobody until he reached that rem- farm home wherein Cornelius and Ulaff and Hilda wee playing a little tragedy of their own. Meanwhile the Boers having fallen back on Driefontein had also sent out scouting partiee, and it was one of these, numbeiing about four score, which came up just in the nick of time to make a little diversion in favour of Cornelim. Reginald, as I mid. had recognised Hilda's voice, and had called for aid to break in the door. But his order was never obeyed. Hardly had the words left his lips, almost indeed as if in echo to them, from the other side of the house came the Eudden snapping of Maueer rifles and hoarse shouts in a strange jumble of English and Dutch. Reginald heard one of his own officers giving orders and then remembering, though with a muttered curee, where hie own duty lay, he swung himself quickly down the stairs to see what was afoot. " Keep to cover, men." he shouted. 'Don't show a head. What is it. Lawton?" Party of Boers. sir. I don't think they wanted to fight. I fancy, we surprised them more than they surprised us. ' For some minutes. however, the fight raged keenly enough, Reginald'e Colonials holding the farmbuildings while the Boers, fearing they were caught in a trap, for French's cavalry were, they knew, 'hovering in that neighbourhood, fought desperately, hoping to obtain a lodgment in the house and deetrov its defenders ere aid could arrive. "There must be a hundred of them," Lawton paid, as he and Reginald crept round the side of the house hopine to see a chance for a sortie: The firing should bring the other fellow, up though." "Ye, and we're under cover while they are not," added Reginald onietly. "We should—the donee!!! The ejaculation was justified. From the upper windows of the farm came a sudden rattling volley from at least a dozen guns. dropping five or six of the men in the yard. and sending the rest scuttling to cover, a manoeuvre which requires a little explanation. When Reginald knocked at the door Cornelius end Ulan' had paused for a moment in their breathless fight. " Its the British." Ula,ff muttered. " Ay," said Corneliue, with an evil laugh. "And if they catch you they will shoot you. You are a deserter. you know." With a sudden effort he threw Ulaff off, and sprang to the window facing the back of the house, Without a moment's heeitation he threw it open, and shouted in Dutch: "Hullo! there—help! help! We are prisoners." Two or three bullets snatted on the wall around the window. but a moment afterwards the commandant. a Transvaaler from Cornelius' own district shouted— " ()Met there, it is a friend." " Come up here, quick," Cornelius added. "There are no British here. They are all on the other side—in the yard—you have them in a trap." A minute or two later and the tipper room- of the farm house were full of burghers pouring a murderous fire into the yard below. Ulaff himself seized a rifle, and took part in the fight, but not too Cornelius, who had other fish to try.