Thus attacked both in front and rear, there was nothing to do but retire.

Fortunately, we had not lost a single man.
First we rode in a southerly direction, but as soon as we got into cover we struck off to the east, setting our faces towards Heilbron.
Then, to our immense relief, the sun went down.

How often during our long struggle for independence had not the setting of the sun seemed to lift a leaden weight from my shoulders! If, on a few occasions, the approach of night has been to our disadvantage, yet over and over again it has been nothing less than our salvation.
We got back safely, under cover of the darkness, to our little camp near Slootkraal, and there remained in hiding until the following day.

It was there that Commandant Nel handed in his resignation.

In his place the burghers of Kroonstad chose Mr.Frans Van Aard as their Commandant.
That night we set out for Paardenkraal, twenty miles to the north-east of Kroonstad, staying there until the evening of the 19th.
The time for my attack on the railway line having now come, I divided my men into three parties for that purpose.