over
a gently rising country covered with small brush, with here and there a
shallow ravine which gave a little shelter to his men. While they were
moving forward, three men, not in uniform, rode up to him. At first he
took them for Boers, but the Northumberland accent of the first who
hailed him was convincing. They were men in charge of De Beers farms,
and when the firing began they were looking after the large herd of De
Beers cattle.
One
of these keepers, Dott, guided the troops up the hill, taking them out
of sight of the enemy as much as possible, and shouting, " This way,
Mr. Officer ! " " This way, Mr. Officer ! "
Their scramble up the hill was very plucky. In front lay the Boers hidden in the rocks, and on their left was a magazine
