The night of the 23rd and morning of the 24th were spent in camp near Thomas' Farm while the Engineers, supported by the armoured train, repaired the railway line. In the afternoon of the 24th the camp was struck and the force marched seven miles north to Swinks Pan, over the waterless veldt, leaving the 1st Scots Guards and two companies of Munster Fusiliers--who had come up from Orange River--to hold Belmont station, in the neighbourhood of which there was still a small Boer force 500 strong. This day the armoured train had a brush with the Boers, in which three officers and men were killed or wounded. At Swinks Pan there was a good water supply, and there the column halted. Away to the east rose kopjes, which, the scouts had ascertained, were held by Boers. The enemy's strength, however, could only be guessed at; it was placed at 400 men. Events showed very plainly that this was a ludicrous underestimate. The Boers had closely dogged the column, though rarely or never seen. At Swinks Pan traces of their presence and smouldering camp fires were discovered, showing that their scouts had been close at hand. [Sidenote: [NOV. 25, 1899.] That night the column received orders to be under arms at dawn, when a move was to be made for Graspan, where was the enemy's position. The Boer force being believed insignificant, only the Ninth Brigade, with the artillery, cavalry and mounted infantry would, it was thought, be required. The Guards were accordingly left with the baggage--they had done the hardest work at Belmont and had fully earned the right to a rest--and were directed to march north to Enslin, which was to be the next halting point. [Illustration: DETRAINING THE WOUNDED AT WYNBERG.] [Sidenote: Advance of the Ninth Brigade.]