98 Recollections of Adventures 



lately married a sister of Joseph Fourie, a spinster 

 of uncertain age with a " wall eye," she was known 

 as the "oude nooi," ("old maid/') I generously 

 offered to " trek stok " with Willem for his " oude 

 nooi," he was irate, but being chaffed by his friends, 

 he risked it. I pulled him up and claimed the " oude 

 nooi " most seriously, this got on his nerves, and he 

 slunk away from the laager in the evening to walk 

 home at Horn's Nek in the Magaliesberg. When 

 he reached Sarel Du Toit's farm (near where the 

 " Jameson raid " party were first attacked many 

 years later) the dogs drove poor Willem into a dry 

 ditch, keeping him there in the bitter cold till day- 

 light, when the commando came along and we got 

 him out. In consideration for his sufferings I 

 promised to waive my claim to " de oude nooi," and 

 he no doubt wrangled with her happily ever after. 



On this commando the oxen contracted foot-and- 

 mouth disease, when the poor animals could hardly 

 travel, and many died of starvation, as they could 

 not eat the dry grass. The commando was a failure. 

 The time and energy wasted over these frequent 

 commandos prevented the country progressing. 

 During the Boer Civil War of 1864, Rensberg's com- 

 mando was expected. They made my father Com- 

 mandant and our verandah was full of warriors, 

 sleeping. I relieved Lys, Broderick, and others from 

 guarding the powder magazine, but told them not to 

 be disturbed if they heard shots during the night. 

 About midnight, our guard (some armed with 

 elephant guns) let off a couple of volleys, and the 

 panic in the town was immense it was lovely! 

 most of them stampeded into the yard behind the 

 house ! it was not until order was restored that I 

 could get to bed. My dear old father was annoyed 

 with me when I could not give an account of my 



