On the 18th General Baden-Powell arrived at Pretoria, where he had an enthusiastic reception. He stayed but two days, and was off again on his return journey towards Rustenburg. This town at the time was garrisoned by a very small force and one gun, whose occupation it was to continue the work of pacification, and accept the surrender of arms--most of which appeared to be of obsolete type. [Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL R. A. P. CLEMENTS, D.S.O., A.D.C. Photo by Elliott & Fry, London] At this date, between Rustenburg and Pretoria, a body of the enemy under Commandant Du Plessis were roaming about, and these were met on the 19th by Hutton's Mounted Infantry, who came out of the fray with two guns to their credit. It was not often in the history of the war that Boer guns were seized, and the little British force was justifiably pleased with their prowess. There was no end to the activity of Hutton's Mounted Infantry, and skirmishes with wandering tribes of the enemy were of almost daily occurrence. On the 24th Captain Anley had a smart "set-to" with Boer patrols south of Pretoria, in which Lieutenant Crispin and one man of the Northumberland Fusiliers were wounded. [Illustration: RAILWAY MAP SHOWING LINES TO W. AND S.W. OF PRETORIA. (Scale, 1 inch=64 miles. By permission of the Publishers of "South Africa.")] About this period an informal armistice was in operation; Botha having been given time to consider the philosophy of fighting against the inevitable. Lord Roberts made the suggestion that the Boer commandant should disarm his forces, and thus avert unnecessary bloodshed, but the Dutchman doggedly refused to surrender without the consent of his Government, and demanded further respite to obtain the same. This being probably another ruse to enable the Dutch rebels, mercenaries, and others--who were gathering round the standard of the commandant--to gain breathing time, the request was refused, and hostilities were resumed. An official warning was given to the effect that any further activities in the form of the destruction of railway lines, &c., would be met with prompt punishment, and involve the demolition of all farms within five miles of the point molested. Colonel Girouard was also authorised to compel leading residents to accompany trains--a wise precaution, reminiscent of the policy of the East, which forces the Grand Vizier to taste of every dish prepared for his sovereign!