With Buller in Natal | Page 9

troops go
on ahead of us."
"Well," the other replied, "I don't care so much for myself, though I
don't say that it would be lively to be stuck up here for four days and
nights, but it would be awful for the women; and I should say that very
few of them have got more than enough provisions for a day. Still, of
course, if we are shunted at a station we shall be able to buy things."
"I am not so sure of that," Chris said. "You know what the Boers are at
their best; and now that they believe the time has arrived when they are
going to be the absolute lords of all South Africa, they are so puffed up
that there is no saying what they may do to show their hatred and
contempt for us. And whatever happens, you fellows, you must keep
your temper. My father spoke to me very strongly about it. You must
remember that they will not mind what they do, and would shoot any of
us down on the smallest excuse, knowing well enough that we are
helpless, and that it is unlikely any enquiry would ever be made, or
anyone punished even if they shot a dozen of us. We must remember
that we intend to pay off old scores later on, and that we mean to do it
with interest."

CHAPTER II
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 them back to the train. Had
they been armed the men would assuredly have resisted till the last,
although certain to be killed, so mad were they with passion. As it was,
it would have been throwing away their lives, without a chance of even
avenging themselves on their