t manned the gun and opened fire
on a Boer position that had been previously located by Colonel Rhodes.
More than a dozen shells were scattered among the enemy, causing
frightful consternation. The Boers at the time were busily engaged in
constructing an emplacement for one of their 40-pounders, but when "Joe
Chamberlain" made himself not only heard but felt, there was a stampede.
The lyddite ploughed up the hills with terrific uproar, and the
surrounding atmosphere appeared as though a sirocco of red sand had
swept over the district.

The force now massing on the Orange River, with Lieutenant-General Lord
Methuen in command, consisted of:--

2nd Yorkshire Light Infantry, 2nd Northamptonshire, 1st Loyal
North Lancashire (Mounted Infantry), 1st Loyal North
Lancashire, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, 3rd Grenadier Guards,
1st Coldstream Guards, 2nd Coldstream Guards, 1st Scots Guards,
9th Lancers, 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 1st
Highland Light Infantry, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, Part of 2nd
Royal Highlanders (Black Watch), several Companies of Royal
Engineers, 18th, 62nd, and 65th Field Batteries, one or two
Horse-Artillery Batteries, part of Kimberley Light Horse, part
of Diamond Fields Horse, Naval Brigade, Contingents from
Australia, several Companies of Army Medical Corps, Field
Hospitals, Colonial Mounted Irregulars, Rimington's Scouts,
South African Reserve.

The total was about 14,000 men.

The number of Boers prepared to meet the British advance was supposed to
be between 15,000 and 18,000, but, in spite of this, it was decided that
some onward move must soon be made. The week's delay for the arrival of
reinforcements and other preparations was now over, and Spyfontein was
ahead. There the Boers held, if possible, a stronger position than any
that had yet been attacked. Towards the east they were congregating from
the direction of Jacobsdal, and the extent occupied by them was already
enormous. Lord Methuen, if he meant to get to Kimberley at all, was
forced to attempt to do so by frontal attack, as the area occupied by
the Boers was so great that no other means of tackling them was
feasible. Still the troops were in excellent spirits, the prospect of
shortly relieving a besieged multitude giving them courage to compensate
for their fatigue.

On the morning of the 10th there was a voluntary Church Parade.
According to a wag who report