On emerging from the donga at Kruger’s Post on to the open veldt a further halt was made; the leading troops lay down in the soaking grass and were fast asleep in a moment.

It was found that the column had opened out considerably, and must have stretched for some four miles from lead to end.  The rate of marching at the head of the column had been about two miles per hour.  This was found, over the rough ground, to be too quick to allow of the rear keeping closed up—­the pace should not have exceeded one mile an hour.

The column having closed up and the sleeping men having with difficulty been found and turned up out of the wet grass, a further advance was made.  But now the direction was to the right in order to avoid Kruger’s Post Farm, which was occupied by the Boers.  This took the column over some millraces, a biggish jump for the men.  The mules, having been relieved of their loads, were man-handled across.  Once over these and then a wade through a stream knee deep, the ghostly column again halted.  It was now 3.30 a.m.  The foot of the low hills behind which was the laager, had been reached, and the officers were busy getting their men collected.

An intelligence officer reports that if there is the slightest delay dawn will break before the positions are reached.  The first streak of dawn is 4.45 a.m.

“May we go off now on our own?” is the question asked.

“All right; off you go!” is the cheery answer from Colonel Park.

The Devons had the furthest to go, perhaps one and a half miles to reach the far side of the laager.  The Royal Irish were already at the foot of the hill on the top of which was the position assigned to them.

Two of the Rifle Brigade companies had unfortunately missed connection and had gone off into the “Ewigkeit” in the dark, but one company was ready and handy to the Nek which they had to occupy, to fill up the gap between the Devons and the Royal Irish.

The Devons, who by this time were well together, started off, Captain Travers with a guide leading.  He had orders to take on with him the two first companies, the guide showing him where to place his men.  On they went, running and walking, walking and running, up the slippery road, across the Nek and then down into the valley below.  Two small groups of men were posted in the ditch leading up to the Nek.

As the last man reached the knoll overlooking the Nek at the place where the main road crossed it, and which was the right of the Devons’ allotment of position, the two leading companies could be heard down in the valley below stumbling amongst the stones, getting into a position that would entirely cut off the Boers’ retreat down the main road leading north.

[Illustration:  Mission Camp Fort, Lydenburg]

Suddenly all was still:  everything was ready.  It was exactly 4.45 a.m.

All lay down and waited in breathless silence for the coming dawn.  The Devons had orders to withhold their fire as long as possible, to make sure of the other units being in their places.  “That’s the position of the laager, just behind that little knoll,” whispered an intelligence scout; “but it seems as if the bird has flown.”