e frontier, in order to facilitate the march of the main column
of invasion, which was on its way up from the coast. Dick and Tom
chafed under the long delays, and twice rode home and spent a day with
their parents.

At last, however, the column was in front of the enemy's position. The
Boers, who were some 3000 strong, held a strong position on the line of
the crest of the ridge, with breastworks thrown up in front. The total
force of Sir George Colley consisted of but 870 infantry, together with
the mounted men and guns; and to attack such a position, with a chance
of success, every man should have been sent against the intrenchments.
General Colley, however, seems at the last moment to have been alarmed
for the safety of his baggage, which was menaced by parties of Boers on
his left flank. He therefore prepared to attack with only five
companies of the 58th--that is, but little more than 250 men, keeping
the whole of the rest of the infantry in reserve, but ordering the
mounted infantry to assist in the attack--a service which, upon such
ground, they were altogether unfitted to perform. The result of such an
arrangement as this was inevitable. Tom and Dick could scarcely believe
their eyes when they saw this handful of men advancing up the steep
hill, at whose summit was a force more than ten times as numerous, and
composed of some of the finest marksmen in the world. The six English
guns opened fire to cover the advance, and the 58th went gallantly up
the hill As soon as they approached the crest, a tremendous fire of
musketry was opened upon them by the Boers lying behind the
intrenchments. The men were literally swept away by the fire.
Gallantly led by their officers, they pressed forward until within a few
yards of the breastworks; then the Boers leapt to their feet, sprang
over the works and fell upon them. Colonel Deane, Major Poole,
Lieutenant Elwes, and Lieutenant Bailey were killed, and no less than
180 of the little force were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. Few
even of the survivors would have escaped, had not the mounted infantry,
who had ascended the spur at a point farther to the right, made a
gallant charge along the crest of the hill and checked the pursuit. The
main body of the British advanced a short distance to make a
demonstration, and prevent the Boers from following up their success.
The whole column then fell back four miles, to the ground which they had
occupied the night befo