nd
file killed; Captain Paley, Second Lieutenant Davenport, Second
Lieutenant Bond, and forty rank and file wounded. Six men of the Rifle
Brigade who remained in charge of the wounded were taken prisoners.

Sir George White now continually used his balloon for purposes of
observation. He was also in communication with Frere Camp, where an
electric searchlight was in operation, and with Umkolanda, near Weenen,
where Captain Cayzer of the Dragoons worked the heliograph.

The garrison still remained cheerful although the Boer bombardment grew
heavier. Threatening sounds of firing in the neighbourhood of Colenso
caused them to sustain hope, though the pinch of siege life, suspense,
sickness, and shell-fire were beginning to be felt. However, owing to
the admirable forethought of Colonel Ward, Army Service Corps, the food
supply was still equal to the drain upon it.

FRERE CAMP

General Sir F. C. Clery arrived at Frere on the 2nd of December, and
assumed command of the Second Division. He took up his quarters at the
shattered house of the stationmaster. Preparations were set on foot to
repair Frere bridge, which had been entirely wrecked, and a mounted
force under Lord Dundonald was actively engaged in chasing large parties
of Boers on their return to Colenso. Great interest was caused by the
arrival in camp of another of the inventions of Captain Scott of the
_Terrible_. It consisted of a searchlight apparatus for signalling to
Ladysmith, with engine and dynamo, entirely armoured. Communication with
Ladysmith by heliograph was soon successfully established, much to the
consternation of the Boers at Colenso, who tried their best to interfere
with messages. The camp was daily increasing in size, and
reinforcements, with their baggage, horses, waggons, and guns, began to
pour in from Maritzburg, while the Durban Light Infantry and a battery
of Natal Field Artillery were posted to protect Estcourt, Willow Grange,
and Mooi River from raiders and attacks on lines and telegraph wires.

[Illustration: FROM FRERE TO CHIEVELEY--DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSPORT.

Drawing by R. Caton Woodville.]

The arrival of Generals Buller and Clery and the increasing
concentration of troops now began to presage an important and, it was
hoped, decisive movement. Visual communication was being held nightly
with General White, and a combined action seemed quite possible. It was
recognised, however, that the Boer posit