Major Leuchars
and some Natal Police under Sub-Inspector Maxwell. Two good hours of
fighting ensued, after which the Boers turned tail and made off. Here we
must note that every one spoke highly of the Natal Mounted Police. The
members of the force, mostly gentlemen, were fine horsemen and crack
shots. Being Colonial bred, they were conversant with every inch of the
country, having done splendid service in Zululand, Pondoland, and the
outlying districts. Their experience was, therefore, invaluable.

At this time two important events took place, the Tugela River rose, and
became impassable save for boats and punts, and the long-looked-for
arrival of Sir Redvers Buller at Maritzburg was the signal for general
rejoicing. He now began the direction of operations.

So many are the minor yet exciting incidents of war, that it is
impossible to recount them; yet in these minor incidents many glorious
lives have been heroically hazarded, and indeed sacrificed, with scarce
any recognition from the country in whose service the daring deeds were
done. Some idea of the adventures of scouting parties may be obtained
from an account given by the correspondent of the _Natal Times_ on the
25th of November.

"A patrol party of sixty members of the Rifle Association went out
to-day under Captains Gough and D. E. Simmons to locate the enemy on the
Berg side of the railway.

"They found the enemy encamped on Simmon's farm, and commissariat
waggons on Blaker's farm, about twenty-two miles from here, and seven
and a half west of Mooi River.

"On reaching the swollen river near Nourse Varty's farm, eight of the
party swam across on horseback to scale the kopje.

"While doing so, the scouts, who had been sent along the river-bank,
gave the alarm, and reported that the Boers were closing round the kopje
to cut them off.

"They at once retreated, and crossed the river, but the horses could not
climb the bank and returned riderless to the other side.

"The riders swam in and brought them back, and succeeded in dragging the
exhausted animals up, when they discovered that they had been the
victims of a false alarm.

"After resting, the party again crossed the river, leaving their clothes
behind.

"Without a vestige of clothing, they proceeded to a height a mile off,
and saw the Boers breaking up camp, and moving towards Ulundi Road.

"The naked party remained watching for an hour and a half, when Simmons
recrossed the river and came ba