Kitchener’s scheme was for all 14 columns to march inwards so as to converge on Paardehoek, a farm south of Frankfort, where de Wet had summoned the commandos to assemble. Extraordinary precautions were taken to maintain secrecy and even the officers commanding the various columns knew nothing of the objective until the march actually began. Efforts were made to deceive the Boers as to what was intended. The columns moved smoothly and on 12^th November the circle of columns duly converged on Paardehoek and found the trap empty. During the drive they had neither seen nor heard of any large hostile body. Boer intelligence and mobility had been equal to the occasion and they had escaped through the gaps in the cordon, particularly at night.