position was not a mile less than fifteen miles
long, and for the most part it was just what Boers like--rocky kopjes
and ridges, high and low, always giving cover and opportunity for
surprise and ambuscade.

[Illustration: LOMBARD'S KOP]

It was against the left flank of that position that our right was now
hurling itself. The idea, I suppose, was to roll their left back upon
their centre and take Pepworth Hill and "Long Tom" in the confusion
of retreat. That may or may not have been the General's plan, but from
my post with the Gordons I soon saw something was happening to prevent
it. On a flat piece of green in front of the rocky kopjes, where the
enemy evidently was, I could see men, not running, but walking about in
different directions. They were not crowded, but they seemed to be
moving about like black ants, only in a purposeless kind of way. "They
are Boers, and we've got them between our men and our battery," said a
Gordon officer. But I knew his hope was a vain one. Very slowly they
were coming towards us--turning and firing and advancing a little, one
by one--but still coming towards us, till at last they began to dribble
through the intervals in our batteries. Then we knew it was British
infantry retiring--a terrible sight, no matter how small the loss or how
wise the order given. Chiefly they were the 60th (K.R.R.) and the
Leicesters. I believe the Dublins were there too. Behind them the enemy
kept up the incessant crackle of their rifles.

They came back slowly, tired and disheartened and sick with useless
losses, but entirely refusing to hurry or crowd. With bullet and shell
the enemy followed them hard. Our batteries did what they could to
protect them, and Colonel Coxhead, in command of the guns, received the
General's praise afterwards. The Natal Volunteers and Gordons, and at
least part of the Manchesters were there to cover the retreat, but
nothing could restore the position again. Battalions and ranks had got
hopelessly mingled, and as soon as they were out of range the men
wandered away in groups to the town, sick and angry, but longing above
all things for water and sleep. The enemy's shells followed hard on
their trail nearly into the town, plumping down in the midst whenever
any body of men or horses showed themselves among the ridges of the
kopjes. Seeing what was happening on the right the centre began to
withdraw as well, and as their baggage train climbed back into the town
up the Newcas