152 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



and had a number of shot guns ready loaded with slugs, 

 which for night firing at close ranges are more effective 

 than bullets. 



Apparently they became disappointed with the effect 

 of the fire of the guns, and removed them to the top of 

 a hill about a mile off. From that point they could 

 certainly deliver a plunging fire upon the fort ; but the 

 range was too great, and they could not even hit the fort. 



One day there was loud cheering from the Boer camp, 

 and a deputation of them came up, accompanying a 

 messenger from the Government at Pretoria who bore 

 a despatch announcing that hostilities were over ; that 

 the British had agreed to give back the Transvaal to the 

 Boer Government ; that the country would be evacuated 

 by us in three months, and that our force was to march 

 down to Pretoria at once. 



It is difficult to describe the disgust and despondency 

 that pervaded our garrison. Had a shot never been 

 fired at all, had the country been given back to the 

 Boers before hostilities commenced, we could have 

 understood it. But to yield up the country after being 

 well thrashed all round was more than we could reconcile 

 with any previously accepted canons of British pro- 

 cedure. 



We were on good terms with our late enemies, and 

 employed some of them to convey our stores in their 

 waggons to Pretoria. 



The Boers have their country, and I hear that they 

 are administering it justly and wisely. Extensive gold 

 fields have been discovered, and their treasury is full. 



There has been a great influx of Europeans, and 

 British capital. The Boers have given their assent to 

 any foreigner obtaining the electoral franchise, provided 



