I had soon gratified my curiosity, and persuaded my companion, who was busy photographing, also to leave this desolate spot.
The Boers continued to ride roughshod over the land, commandeering oxen and cattle, putting up to public auction such Government properties as they had seized at the different railway-stations, and employing hundreds of Kaffirs to tear up the railway-line.

Our enemies were perfectly secure in the knowledge that no help could come for months, and the greater number believed it would never come at all, and that the "Roineks" were being cut to pieces in the South.

They openly stated there would be no more railway traffic, but that in future trade and transit would be carried on by transport riding--_i.e._, by ox-waggon, their favourite amusement and occupation.

In the meantime the cry of the loyal colonists went up from all sides: "How much longer can it last ?" After a few days Mr.P.duly returned from Mafeking, having had a risky but successful trip in and out of the town.

He reported it all well, and that the inhabitants were leading a mole existence, owing to the constant shelling.