of the besieging operations and compelled them to work in the trenches in exposed positions so that they should be—­and actually were—­shot by their own comrades.  There was also the incident in which he refused to allow one or two of the ladies who were among the beleaguered garrison, and who were then in extremely bad health, to leave the fort to obtain such food and medical attendance as would enable them to live.  One of the ladies died in consequence.  But the incident which has more bearing on Jameson’s surrender than any other is that connected with the armistice, when Commandant Cronje, in defiance of treaty obligations, withheld from Colonel Winslow and the besieged garrison the news that an armistice had been arranged between the Boer and British forces, and continued the siege until the garrison, in order to save the lives of the wounded and the women and children refugees, were obliged to surrender.  It will be remembered that this incident was too much even for Mr. Gladstone, and that on its becoming known after the terms of peace had been settled, the Transvaal Government were required by Sir Evelyn Wood to allow a British force to march up from Natal and re-occupy Potchefstroom as a formal acknowledgment of Cronje’s treachery.  Mr. Kruger and his party, who were in the greatest fear that the settlement would not be effected, and that Sir Evelyn Wood’s action might provoke a renewal of hostilities, agreed to the terms, but with grave apprehensions as to the results.  However, no contretemps occurred.

{32} Once when out hunting on foot—­a young man then—­Mr. Kruger, after climbing to the top of a kopje, found that he had been seen by a number of hostile natives who were then running towards him, some to climb the hill, others branching out to surround it.  He knew that those on the flat could cut him off before he could descend and that his only chance lay in ‘bluff.’  Stepping on to the outermost ledge in full view of the enemy he calmly laid down his rifle, drew off first one and then the other of his velschoens (home-made hide shoes, in those poorer days worn without socks) and after quietly knocking the sand out of them drew them on again.  By this time the natives had stopped to observe him.  He then picked up his rifle again, and turning to an imaginary force behind the kopje waved to the right and then to the left, as though directing them to charge round each end of the hill.  The next instant the Kaffirs were in full retreat.

CHAPTER VII.

AFTER DOORNKOP.

The news of Dr. Jameson’s surrender was received in Johannesburg towards mid-day, at first with derision, but as report after report came in, each confirming and supplementing the other, no room for doubt was left and a scene of the wildest excitement ensued.  It is not too much to say that not one person in a hundred, no matter what his political leanings were, had doubted for a moment Dr. Jameson’s ability