It was his game, therefore, to keep his army intact, and to let those throbbing engines and whirling propellers do the work of the empire.

Had he entrenched himself up to his nose and waited, it would have paid him best in the end.
But so tame and inglorious a policy is impossible to a fighting soldier.
He could not with his splendid force permit himself to be shut in without an action.

What policy demands honour may forbid.

On October 27th there were already Boers and rumours of Boers on every side of him.

Joubert with his main body was moving across from Dundee.