The place which bulks so large upon the map was merely a farmhouse with one or two hovels near, a well, and a "pan" or large pond of water, dry except during the rains. The thirsty men crowded round the well; the horses were taken down to the pan, for the day had been one of broiling heat. Here Colonel Hannay's men fell into the column, reporting a loss of 39 killed, wounded, or missing; here, too, drafts and details from the base joined up, swelling the gathering of cavalry; and here presently, as night came on, long columns of infantry of the Sixth Division began to arrive. Far off on every side to the west rose clouds of dust, marking the advance of a great army. Three divisions were upon the move, besides the cavalry. First came the Sixth, then the Seventh, and last the Ninth Division, each a day apart, heading steadily for Ramdam and the Riet. [Illustration: DE KIEL'S DRIFT. Getting the water-carts, &c., across amidst clouds of dust.] [Illustration: [_Walker & Cockerell sc._ Midnight, Monday Feb. 12th. Night, Tuesday Feb. 13th.] [Sidenote: French at Waterval Drift.] [Sidenote: FEB. 12, 1900.] _Passage of the Riet._] So far General French himself had not been in touch with the enemy. But on the morning of the 12th, when his troops saddled up and started on a short seven miles ride to Waterval Drift upon the Riet, it was clear that the Boers were approaching. They were the same party that had been engaged by Colonel Hannay on the previous day, reinforced by 400 men from Magersfontein. The start was made at 3 a.m., yet though Rimington's famous scouts, who knew every inch of the ground, were guiding, the darkness just before dawn was such that a halt became imperative, and the general's intention of seizing the drift before clear day broke was frustrated. As the red light of early dawn showed over the kopjes to the east, the march was resumed, and about 6 a.m. a few shots were fired upon the British left flank when the column neared the drift, and a gun galloped out into the open and began a rapid and well-directed fire upon the British troops. General French found that a kopje in his immediate front was strongly held. What was to be done? [Illustration: _Frank Craig._] [_From a sketch by G. D. Giles._ THE CROSSING OF THE RIET. Showing the kopjes south of the river which the enemy tried, too late, to seize.] [Sidenote: De Kiel's Drift secured.] [Sidenote: [FEB. 12-13, 1900.]