through retreating and beaten enemy.

At 11.20 two squadrons of cavalry and a battery of artillery arrive,
and shortly after another train full of troops is seen approaching in
the distance.

Chatting with Colonel Chisholme, of the Imperial Light Horse, I was
chaffing him about calling them "light," pointing out a group of
giants standing near him; but he agreed that their hearts were light,
anyhow, whatever their weight might be. He had commenced his military
career when eighteen in the 9th Lancers, and his Imperial Light Horse
was embodied on the 9, 9, 99. He was telling how all the important
dates of his life had a 9 in them, as Major Douglas Haig galloped up
and told him we were going to start. I said, "All these nines clearly
point to your living to ninety-nine." "Oh no," he laughed back,
cheerily, "I don't wish to live to be as old as that." His wish was
gratified.

"Saddle," "Prepare to mount," "Mount." We were going forward again.

At 1.30 we started, after just two hours' rest, in which the main body
had come up, so that our entire force now consisted of the 5th
Lancers, Imperial Light Horse, two field batteries of Royal
Artillery, the Devonshire Regiment, half a battalion of the
Manchester, and half a battalion of the Gordon Highlanders. At 1.55
fire opened from the tops of the line of ridges running parallel to
the railway line, which were all lined with men. Some of the 5th
Lancers have already gone off to the extreme right. At the foot of the
first hill, from which firing proceeds, a squadron of the Border
Mounted Rifles are dismounting, and now two lines of khaki figures are
climbing steadily up the hill. Long before they reach the top the
Boers are seen retiring. They have no idea of making a stand yet, and
as the khaki figures reach the summit the Lancers, sweeping round from
the extreme right flank, join them. During this time the Devons and
Manchesters have been pouring out of the train, and are now crossing
the veldt in dotted lines towards the ridge of hills.

2.15.--Another train now appears, bringing further reinforcements.

2.30.--Quite a hot fire now opens on the extreme left, and in a few
minutes the artillery are ordered forward, and the six guns pass us at
a gallop. They are soon lined up and firing shrapnel at some Boers,
who scurry away over the brow of a kopje. The guns limber up and jump
the railway line--a pretty stiff little obstacle--the narrow gauge
metals being on top of a nar