re. The gallantry displayed by the 58th and
mounted infantry was the sole redeeming feature in the discreditable
affair of Laing's Neck, where defeat had been rendered almost certain by
the previous hesitation and delays, and was ensured by the folly of
sending a mere handful of men to attack such a position. As the British
fell back, the Boers advanced, and at nightfall placed themselves on the
road between the camp and Newcastle, entirely cutting the force off from
its base, and threatening both them and the town of Newcastle.

Several days passed, the attitude of the Boers became more and more
threatening, and General Colley determined at all hazards to open the
way back to Newcastle. On the morning of the 8th of February he moved
out with five companies of the 60th rifles, two field and two
mountain-guns, and a detachment of mounted infantry; Dick and Tom
obtained leave to ride back with the mounted detachment. At a
commanding post near the River Ingogo Sir George Colley left two
mountain-guns and a company of rifles as a garrison, and moved forward
with the rest of the column. The River Ingogo runs at the bottom of a
deep ravine. Crossing this the English force mounted to the top of the
opposite crest, but they had gone but a short distance farther when they
were attacked on all sides by the Boers. The troops were ordered at
once to take shelter among the boulders and bushes, while the two guns
from the top of the eminence opened fire with shell upon the enemy.

Dick and Tom sought shelter with the rest, making their horses lie down
beside them, and were soon as hotly engaged as the Rifles around them in
answering the heavy fire of the Boers. The fight began at twelve
o'clock, and raged without intermission for six hours; sometimes the
Boers attacked on one side of the position, sometimes upon another. The
ground was broken and thickly strewn with boulders and bushes, and
favoured by these the Boers crept up sometimes close to the position
held by the English. So accurate was their shooting that none of the
defenders could show his head above shelter for a moment, and it was as
much as they could do to prevent the enemy from carrying the position at
a rush. The 60th fought with the greatest coolness and steadiness, and,
numerous as were the enemy, they could not muster up courage for the
rush which would have assuredly overwhelmed the little party that they
were attacking. The two English Dick and Tom s