st heavily from the English shrapnel
fire. When the English got to the top of the hill the Boers ran down the
other side. The Boers are much disheartened by their losses."

Judging from the above, the native must have then run away and not have
waited to see the finish, for in the evening the following news came
in:--

"Buller attacked Spion Kop, seized and occupied it, but was driven off
again the next night. Our loss is estimated at 200 killed and 300
wounded."

With the knowledge that history has given the world about the battle of
Spion Kop, further comment is needless. The news above is given as it
was received by the garrison of Ladysmith, who of course knew nothing
but what was sent in in scraps by Sir Redvers Buller, and what came in
to the Intelligence Department by native runners.

On the 30th the daily ration was further cut down to 1/2 lb. of meat, 2
biscuits, 1/6 oz. of tea, and 1/2 oz. of sugar per man. Horses, except
those belonging to the artillery, went rationless.

On January 31st horse-flesh was issued for the first time as a ration.

One dozen whisky was raffled in the town, and fetched L144--L1 10s. per
wineglass!

The only news received from the outside world on February 2nd was that--

"Sir R. Buller has retired behind the Tugela to rearrange, and Sir John
Lubbock has been made a peer."

The question asked is, Who is Lubbock, and is he connected in any way
with the evacuation of Spion Kop?

Some say that the news is the wrong way about, and that Lubbock has
retired and Sir R. Buller been made a peer. Confirmation of the news was
anxiously awaited.

Whichever way it was, in the face of the evacuation of Spion Kop it was
poor news to feed a half-starved and anxious garrison on. However, in
the meantime the big gun on Bulwana had fired his great shells into the
Railway Cutting Camp and killed the doctor's horse.

About this time a decoction called "chevril" was issued to the men. It
was supplied by the 18th Hussars' horses, whose bodies were boiled down
for the purpose. It was nourishing and the men liked it, which was a
good thing. There was nothing else by which to recommend it. The men
were also allowed to go down to the chevril factory, which was close to
the station, and buy the flesh of the horse after it had passed through
the boiling process. This did not appear appetizing, but again the men
liked it, and when cooked up with wild spinach which grew about the
lines it was consid