On the 18th they started early, again taking the road to the Hoek; but heavy rain coming on, Colonel Eyre’s intention of again searching it was defeated, the ground being soon so slippery that neither men nor horses could stand. He therefore dismissed the column; and the Riflemen turned homeward, passing over the Iron Rock and the lower part of the Waterkloof. It was a long way, and it took them six hours’ quick marching to get over it. There was a short halt; but the men’s rations being exhausted, there was nothing to cook. The officers emptied their saddle-bags among the men; but this was insufficient. However Horsford sent on a Cape Corps man with an order to get the tents up, and as the Riflemen came in sight of their old camping-ground at Nell’s farm they found their houses all standing. The Battalion remained in their camp on the 19th, but on the 20th four companies proceeded to the Waterkloof in which they encamped at Brown’s farm at the foot of Mundell’s Krantz; one company (Somerset’s) proceeding to the top of the krantz; and Rooper’s company remaining at Nell’s farm, in occupation of the fort built there. On the 22nd every available man started at two o’clock A.M. on a patrol to Stuart’s Kloof, a Hottentot prisoner captured the day before being led in front by a halter as a guide. Reaching the kloof about sunrise, and perceiving smoke issuing from it, the Riflemen surrounded it and skirmished through it; but finding nothing but Hottentot women and children, returned to their camp at Brown’s farm about two. Heavy and almost continuous rain prevented active operations for some days; and the Riflemen were engaged in building a fort near their camp, and in a very central position in the Waterkloof. But on the 30th, spies having reported that Macomo was in the Kroome hills, a patrol started soon after midnight; and after fording a river and ascending the hills, scoured the kloofs, but did not find any Kaffirs, and returned by the Bushneck to camp about noon. On October 4 a patrol proceeded to the Iron Rock; two companies going to the top of it, while the others extended at its foot. Two Kaffirs were shot; one an amazingly powerful man, quite six feet three in height. On the 10th and following days the Battalion was employed, a company at a time, making roads through the Waterkloof, and opening up communications between the forts lately erected. The men for this duty starting at daybreak and working till sunset. On the 14th the company left at Nell’s farm captured several head of cattle, which were almost driven into their hands by the Kaffirs, who appeared to be ignorant that a party were there stationed.