A TERRIBLE JOURNEY
Twenty-four hours had gone, and not half the distance
had yet been covered. The night had passed painfully
to all those in the waggons, for though most of the
women had provided themselves with wraps of one sort
or another, the cold was severe. This, however,
was less felt than the cramped position in which all
had to sit on the floor, unable to move or to stretch
their legs, the only change obtainable being by standing
up. The pressure was most felt in the open waggons,
where the men as well as the women were packed together
so closely that even sitting down was impossible.
Some slight relief had been afforded by the men on
the covered waggons taking as many from the uncovered
trucks as could lie down there with them; but as the
latter were by far the more numerous, a comparatively
small number of men could be so entertained.
For a time the rising of the sun afforded some relief,
but as it gained in power the position of the fugitives
became almost unbearable. The stoppages were
frequent, and at all the stations the Boers from the
neighbourhood had assembled, some from curiosity, but
the majority to wait for the trains that were to take
them to the front. Although sometimes detained
for three or four hours, the passengers were not allowed
to alight. The men, indeed, at times, by common
impulse, sprang out, but were soon forced to take
their places again, some of the Boers using their
heavy whips over their heads and shoulders, while others
with pointed guns prevented any attempt at retaliation.
Men, and even women, crowded the platform, jeering
and cursing those in the waggons, menacing them with
their whips and snatching at such trinkets, and even
cloaks as took their fancy. The men were all several
times searched for weapons, and made to turn their
pockets inside out, the contents being unceremoniously
transferred to those of the Boers. Chris and his
companions would have taken their places below with
their friends, but these implored them not to do so,
being afraid that they would be enraged beyond endurance,
and might in their anger say or do something that
would give an excuse to the Boers to use their rifles,
which they so often pointed threateningly at women
as well as men. It was only when the train was
in motion that food and drink were passed up from below,
as these too would assuredly, had they been seen, have
been confiscated by the brutal tormentors.
When they steamed into Standerton in the afternoon,
the distress of the women and children for water was
so great that men determined at all costs to endeavour
to get some for them. As if by one impulse, when
the train came to a standstill outside the station,
they jumped out and made for the little village.
But here all refused to give or sell them water or
food, and in a few minutes a large party of Boers rode
in, and falling upon them with their whips, drove
