d from camp to reinforce the Highlanders on the
ridge. These orders having been given, the column again moved off,
leaving the Highlanders to make their arrangements.

"The men had a brief rest after their walk, and then, assisted by
their officers--Captain P. F. Robertson and Lieutenant G.
Staunton--began the work of making their entrenchments. At about 5
A.M. the expected company of the 60th Rifles arrived, under the
command of Captain E. Thurlow and Second Lieutenants C. B. Pigott
and H. G. L. Howard. Surgeon-Major Cornish also accompanied this
detachment, with some mules laden with hospital requirements.
Captain Thurlow, who had received _no orders_, and who had brought
out his men without either their greatcoats or their rations,
joined the Highlanders in their entrenchments. They had to work
hard, so as to complete their work rapidly, and consequently the
men had little or no rest that night. At about 6 A.M. we were
visited by Commissariat-General J. W. Elmes, who was returning to
the camp, and promised to send out the 60th their rations. Shortly
afterwards a conductor named Field arrived with a led mule, laden
with stores, &c., for the staff. He was hurrying on to try and
reach the summit of the hill before day. Doubts were expressed as
to the advisability of his going on alone; but he had his orders,
he said (about the only man who had that day!), and so he went on
his way. About an hour afterwards a shot was heard, and we
afterwards learnt that the conductor had been wounded, and he and
his mule taken prisoners! By this time the day had quite broken,
the heavy curtain of the night had rolled away, and disclosed
before us the rugged and precipitous ascent to the Majuba Mountain,
which stood directly in front of us, about 1400 yards distant. It
stood out in bold relief against a blue-grey sky, and on the
summit, and against the sky, the figures of men could be distinctly
seen passing to and fro. These were only discernible with the aid
of field-glasses, and at that time no great certainty was felt as
to their being our own men.

"Away to the south of us, in the direction of the camp, sloped the
Imquela Mountain. The glasses were brought to bear on this spot
also, where a man was detected signalling with a flag. The officer
commanding o