There was no time to rescue them; and thus in this terrible manner many a poor fellow lost his life.
General De Villiers' wound was so serious, that the only course open was to ask the commanding officer of the Senekal garrison to let him have the benefit of the English doctors' skill.

This request was willingly granted, and De Villiers was placed under the care of the English ambulance.

Sad to say, he died of his wound.
Some time later I was informed that the man who had carried the request into Senekal was ex-Commandant Vilonel, who was then serving as a private burgher.

A few days later he surrendered, so that one naturally inferred that he had arranged it all during his visit to Senekal.
Shortly after he had given up his arms, he sent a letter to one of the Veldtcornets, asking him to come to such and such a spot on a certain evening, to meet an English officer and himself.

The letter never reached the hands of the person to whom Vilonel had addressed it; and instead of the Veldtcornet, it was Captain Pretorius with a few burghers, who went to the appointed place.