terly cold, and the men
are chilled to the stomach on the bare hillsides.

_November 14, 1899._

The siege is becoming very tedious, and we are losing heart. Depression
was to-day increased by one of those futile sorties which only end in
retirement. In the early morning a large Boer convoy of waggons was seen
moving along the road beyond Bluebank towards the north, about eight
miles away. Ninety waggons were reported. One man counted twenty-five,
another thirteen. I myself saw two. At all events, waggons were there,
and we thought of capturing them. But it was past ten before even the
nucleus of a force reached Range Post, and the waggons were already far
away. Out trotted the 18th and 19th Hussars, three batteries, and the
Imperial Light Horse on to the undulating plain leading up to the ridge
of Bluebank, where the Boers have one gun and plenty of rocks to hide
behind. That gun opened fire at once, and was supported by "Faith,"
"Hope," and "Charity," three black-powder guns along Telegraph Hill,
besides the two guns on Surprise Hill. In fact, all the Boer guns chimed
in round the circle, and for two hours it was difficult to trace where
each whizzing shell came from, familiar though we are with their
peculiar notes.

Meantime our batteries kept sprinkling shrapnel over Bluebank with their
usual steadiness and perfection of aim. The enemy's gun was soon either
silenced or withdrawn. The rifle fire died down. Not a Boer was to be
seen upon the ridge, but three galloped away over the plains behind as
though they had enough of it. The Light Horse dismounted and advanced to
Star Point. All looked well. We expected to see infantry called up to
advance upon the ridge, while our cavalry swept round upon the fugitives
in the rear. But nothing of the kind happened.

Suddenly the Light Horse walked back to their horses and retired. One by
one the batteries retired at a walk. The cavalry followed. Before two
o'clock the whole force was back again over Range Post. The enemy poured
in all the shells and bullets they could, but our men just came back at
a walk, and only four were wounded. I am told General Brocklehurst was
under strict orders not to lose men.

The shells did more damage than usual in the town. Three houses were
wrecked, one "Long Tom" shell falling into Captain Valentine's
dining-room, and disturbing the breakfast things. Another came through
two bedrooms in the hotel, and spoilt the look of the smoking