This had been pushed back into a culvert, and presented a dilapidated appearance, with its front wheels in the air.

The whole spectacle was forlorn and eerie.

All the time I gave cursory glances right and left, to make sure no Boers were prowling about, and I should not have been surprised to have seen an unkempt head bob up and ask us our business.

But all remained as silent as the grave.

Swarms of locusts were alone in possession, and under the engine and carriages the earth was a dark brown moving mass, with the stream of these jumping, creeping things.