himself a born genius in the art of war. Lord Methuen, knowing further pursuit to be useless, moved afterwards to Mafeking, where he could recoup his force, and allow it to recuperate after having fought fourteen engagements besides skirmishes innumerable since his march from Boshof in May. Lord Kitchener, saving his strength, diverted his course and rushed to the rescue of Colonel Hore. He arrived, as we know, on the 16th, and scattered the enemy with small loss to himself. Unluckily in the collision one of the most active and brilliant of the heroes of the campaign, Colonel De Lisle (Durham Light Infantry), was seriously wounded.[9] To resume. General Carrington, as we know, was at Ottoshoop, and General Ian Hamilton, freed from the necessity to relieve Colonel Hore, was now able to occupy Olifant's Nek in the Magaliesberg, which he did on the 17th, meeting with considerable opposition from the enemy. His advance troops (under Colonel Mahon) having reached Roode Kopjes on the west bank of the Crocodile River, came in for a full share of fighting, but the operations were crowned with success, and finally General Hamilton crossed the Crocodile River in a north-easterly direction, plus two Krupp guns, some transport and ammunition waggons, and seven Boer prisoners. The losses on our side were small, but unhappily Lieutenant Henry Bradburn succumbed to his injuries. [Illustration: COMMANDO'S NEK, MAGALIESBERG] An interesting case of diamond cut diamond took place elsewhere, which resulted in the temporary tracing of De Wet. General Baden-Powell, who was now holding Commando Nek, received a messenger with a flag of truce from the Boer commandant requiring him to surrender, his real purpose being to discover the strength of the garrison. The General, with his usual "slimness," replied demanding what terms he was prepared to offer, his demand being formulated with the object of ascertaining whether De Wet himself was conducting the operations! Each of the "slim" ones having obtained the information he required--having crossed the swords of intellect, as it were--De Wet proceeded on his way to the north, probably to effect a junction with Delarey, and General Baden-Powell, chuckling, "shadowed" him.