ance to allow for the development of any
nefarious schemes which might have been on the tapis. In face of this
disappointment and this advance, the Boers had to gather themselves
together. They had no reserves to send down to the assistance of their
forces in the southern borders, and could only assist these by
withdrawing men from commandoes already in the field. As a natural
consequence, therefore, certain commandoes had to be withdrawn from
Mafeking and Kimberley. In Natal all watched the forward march of the
British with eager eyes. The Boers, hampered by a long train of waggons,
captured cattle, and miscellaneous loot, had been headed off at the only
point on the Tugela where a crossing, since the heavy rains, could be
effected. It seemed, therefore, that Fortune had twisted her wheel, and
that before long the prospects of South Africa would be brightened, and
the remembrances of eighteen years would be entirely sponged out.
Rumours were afloat, however, that the Boers were concentrating in their
old positions near Colenso at the back of Grobler's Kloof, and
everything pointed to the fact that a last determined effort would be
made to prevent the British from crossing the Tugela.

[Illustration: TELEGRAPH SECTION OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS. PHOTO BY
ELLIOTT & FRY]

In spite of the success of our flying column in driving the foe back
across the river, there was cause for regret that the distance was too
great to allow of our bringing up guns and reinforcements in time to
save the bridge from destruction. But the distance from Frere to Colenso
was considerable, and roads were so heavy that the dragging of guns from
one place to the other would have meant a stiff day's work. There was
apparently no option, the Frere bridge being broken, but to let the
enemy destroy the Colenso bridge, invaluable as it was. It became very
evident that the enemy meant to fight tooth and nail, and that the
passage of the Tugela would be disputed inch by inch. However, none was
dismayed: all believed that when the great tug-of-war should come, they
would be equal, and more than equal, to the occasion. Indeed, now that
the forward movement of the troops had commenced, the camp was animated
by a wave of patriotic fervour. The men were literally on fire with
enthusiasm. They longed to press on and come to some distinct
turning-point in the history of the campaign.

A word must here be said of the splendid work done at this time by the
irregul