from the enemy, I sent a letter to the officer in com-
mand, telling him that, if he did not surrender, I
would attack him. I did this in order to discover the
strength of the English force, and to find out if it were
possible to attack the enemy at once, and forcing our
way through the Nek, get to the east of the forces that
were pursuing me.

My despatch rider succeeded in getting into the
English camp before he could be blindfolded. He
came back with the customary refusal, and reported
that although the enemy's force was not very large,
still the positions held were so strong that I could not
hope to be able to capture them before the English
behind me arrived.

I had therefore to give up the thought of breaking
through these and flanking the English. Thus, in-
stead of attacking the enemy, we went in the direc-
tion of Zoutpan, and arrived a few hours later at the
Krokodil River.

I had now left the English a considerable distance
behind me; and so at last--we were able to give our-
selves a little rest.

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