Just before dawn Cronje's army fell back from Magersfontein--the position which for now more than two months had held the army of Lord Methuen in complete check. So skilfully was the operation effected that no sign of the Boer retreat was detected by Lord Methuen's Division, closely watching the enemy's trenches, till the bird had flown. But as the day wore on, the scouts and pickets noted that the place look deserted, and that there seemed to be no one about. They pushed carefully in, examined the works more closely, and, as no shots were fired at them, grew in audacity. Finally they entered the trenches, and brought Lord Methuen word that the position had been abandoned. He at once advanced to Magersfontein with his division, and thus, without striking a blow or firing a shot, opened the way from the south to Kimberley. [Illustration: [_Photo by Hancox, Kimberley._ GENERAL FRENCH'S TROOPS BIVOUACKING IN THE BOER LAAGER OUTSIDE KIMBERLEY.] The state of the Boer trenches gave clear evidence of the haste with which the enemy had retreated. Mr. Ralph, who examined them, gives this interesting description:--"The Boers had gone away in such a hurry that they had no time to take their belongings with them. Evidently the order was 'every man for himself, and no time must be lost.' Consequently the position was littered with trunks, saddles, tin boxes, bags of mealies, of mealie flour, and of rice. Cartridges were as thickly strewn about as if they were as cheap as dead leaves in autumn. Blankets and clothing were also much in evidence. In places the frightened Boers had made an effort to hide their leavings by piling them in the trenches, and then throwing skins or canvas over them, and dirt and tree branches on top of all. In their trunks we found usually only clothing and letters. Much that they had been using was of British make, largely taken from the British dead. Dozens and dozens of bullock hides were in use there, for shelters and for coverings. These had been taken fresh from the backs of the cattle, and the sun was making them fizzle and bubble, frying the fat and tissue on the underside of each, so that they exhaled a nauseating stench. But this formed the least part of the effluvia. A plague of flies helped to make the pest spot still more unendurable. From every shelter, and pole, and bush hung strips of biltong (jerked beef or venison), for they had not dared to stop even long enough to take away this main staff of their lives." [Sidenote: The Boers carry off their big gun.] [Sidenote: [FEB. 16, 1900.]