If he had tried the Berg by one of the faces he might have got on to the plateau and been at Inanda's Kraal by the dawning.
But he over-estimated the size of the commandoes, and held on to the north, where he thought there would be no defence.

About one o'clock Arcoll, tired of inaction and conscious that he had misread Laputa's tactics, resolved on a bold stroke.

He sent half his police to the Berg to reinforce the commandoes, bidding them get into touch with the post at Blaauwildebeestefontein.
A little after two o'clock a diversion occurred.

Henriques succeeded in crossing the road three miles east of Main Drift.

He had probably left the kraal early in the night and had tried to cross farther west, but had been deterred by the patrols.