142 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



ride was nothing to it. Our movement, however, had the 

 desired effect of creating a diversion and causing the 

 Boers to halt and open fire upon us. 



We pulled up, jumped off our horses and fired a couple 

 of rounds apiece ; but as more Boers came up the fire 

 was getting hotter and hotter, the fugitives had now 

 obtained a good start, and there was no further object 

 to be gained by delay, so we too remounted and retired 

 in hot haste. 



The Boers, being suspicious of a trap, followed us no 

 further, but contented themselves with firing shots as 

 long as we were in sight. 



Our skirmish had the desired effect, viz., of convincing 

 the Boers that they could not weaken themselves by 

 detaching a portion of their force to aid in the siege of 

 Pretoria or the defence of Lang's Neck. 



I say this advisedly, lest the reader should imagine 

 that our commander wantonly brought on hostilities 

 without adequate motive. 



The native commissioner at Klipdam had two smooth- 

 bored iron guns with which he used to fire salutes on 

 great occasions. 



We now heard that the Boers had taken possession of 

 these guns, and were putting them in order with a view 

 to employ them for the purpose of reducing our fort. 



Rumour said that they were casting cannon-balls of 

 lead or hammered iron ; and we in our turn made more 

 extensive preparations than we should have made against 

 mere rifle fire. 



The horses of the police were every morning knee 

 haltered, and let out to feed on grass, under charge of 

 two armed men. They were not permitted to wander far 

 from the fort lest they should be captured by the enemy. 



