The railway was at least a mile away on the east,
and so hidden was the town that, till you were close on it, you could
barely see the roofs of the houses. Then suddenly the carriage drove
into the main street, which boasted of some quite respectable shops. The
first thing that attracted our notice was the Court House, almost hidden
in trees, through which glimmered the folds of the gaudy Dutch standard.
Before the court were armed Boers, apparently sentries, whilst others
were passing in and out or lounging outside. Another group were busy
poring over a notice affixed on a tree, which we were told was the
latest war news:
WAR NEWS
LATEST REPORTS
_Price 3d._
VRYBURG, OCT. 31, 1899
MAFEKING SPEECHLESS WITH TERROR
KIMBERLEY TREMBLES
40 ENGLISH SOLDIERS DESERT TO JOIN OUR RANKS
It appears by telegram received this morning that the Burghers
started firing on Mafeking with the big cannon. The town is on
fire and is full of smoke.
The British troops in Natal met the Burghers at Elandslaagte.
The battle-field was kept by the Burghers under General
Prinsloo. Two were killed, four wounded.
We drove down the street, and pulled up at the Central Hotel, where I
got capital rooms and was most civilly received by the manager, an
Englishman.
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