It was Steyn and Botha, with two men of the name of Steytler, and two other Free-Staters whose names I have forgotten, who managed to escape from the ship that lay anchored in the harbour of Ceylon.

They swam a distance of several miles to a Russian ship, by which they were carried to one of the Russian ports, where they received every hospitality.

I shall always be grateful to the Russians for this.

They then travelled through Germany into Holland, being subsequently conveyed in a German ship to German West Africa.

Thence they made their way through Boesmansland to Cape Colony, and, after many adventures, joined General Hermanus Maritz's commando.