h) side of the hill in flank, and kept edging through the
thorns and dongas near the foot. The Natal Police, supported by the
Natal Mounted Rifles, had been set to prevent such a movement, but had
left a gap of 500 yards between their right and three companies of
Gordons stationed in front of "Fly" kraal on that side of the hill. At
last, observing the enemy in a donga, they challenged, and were met by
the answer, "For God's sake, don't fire; we're the Town Guard." At once
they were undeceived by a volley which killed one of them and wounded a
few others. How far they avenged this act of treachery I have not
discovered. The Boers flanking movement was only checked by the 53rd
Battery (Major Abdy), which was posted on the flat across the river from
the show ground, and did splendid service all day. It shelled the side
and top of the hill almost incessantly, though the big Bulwan gun kept
pouring shrapnel and common shell right in front of it, making all the
veldt look like a ploughed field.

Meantime the Boers on the summit held their ground. Their movement was
backed by three field guns and two automatics across the Bester's valley
at ranges of 2,000 yards and 4,000 yards. Their further advance along
the edge was really checked by two Manchester privates, Scott and Pitts,
who kept up an incessant fire from their little wall at the extremity
after all their comrades were shot. Three companies of the Rifle Brigade
at last came up to reinforce. Then the G Company of the Gordons, under
Captain Carnegie. But for a long time no one knew where the gap in our
line really was. About half-past nine one could see the enemy still
thick among the rocks and trees on the left of the extremity, though the
shrapnel was dropping all among them from the 53rd Battery. It was just
before this that Lieutenant Walker, watching with a telescope from the
signal station on the Convent, saw two Boers creeping along the edge
alone for about 150 yards under tremendous fire. Suddenly a shrapnel
took them, and both fell down. They were father and son. About half-past
ten the first assault was repulsed, and for a time the Boers
disappeared, but one could see reinforcements massing behind a hill
called the "Red Kopje," across the deep stream of the Bester's valley.
The second main attack was delivered about one, and the third during the
storm at five. I think, after the first assault, the Boer line never
advanced beyond the cover of the edge. But their