after, a second column
advanced with even more bravado, headed by a standard-bearer, who
carried a red flag. These were said to be Irishmen, who, having elected
to serve a republic, and being debarred from fighting under the green
banner of their own country, yet not quite ready to acknowledge the
supremacy of another race, may have flaunted the emblem of liberty by
way of compromise. More probably, however, they were a mixed lot owning
no common country, but willing or unwilling to serve under any colours
with equal impartiality. Two or three shrapnels bursting in front of
them to a vibrato accompaniment of rifle fire many were seen to fall,
but whether badly hit or not nobody on our side could say. At any rate,
these adventurous auxiliaries are likely to learn discretion from the
wily Boer after such an experience.

The attack, such as it was, had failed on both the positions threatened.
It was never pressed home with energy at any point, and unless the Boers
prove to be as good at concentration as they are in mobility, there is
not the remotest chance for them to achieve even a temporary success by
rifle attack against infantry whose discipline and steadiness have not
been shaken in the slightest degree by shell fire yet. What losses our
foes suffered we have no means of knowing, but they were probably much
heavier than our own, which numbered five killed and twenty-four
wounded, mostly by shells, in the twelve hours of intermittent
fighting.

CHAPTER VI

A MONTH UNDER SHELL FIRE

The first siege-baby--An Irish-American deserter--A soldierly
grumble--Boer cunning and Staff-College strategy--An ammunition
difficulty--The tireless cavalry--A white flag incident--What the
Boer Commandant understood--The Natal summer--Mere sound and
fury--Boer Sabbatarianism--Naval guns at work--"Puffing Billy" of
Bulwaan--Intrepid Boer gunners--The barking of "Pom-Poms"--Another
reconnaissance--"Like scattered bands of Red Indians"--A futile
endeavour--A night alarm--Recommended for the V.C.--A man of straw
in khaki--The Boer search-light--Shelling of the hospital--General
White protests--The first woman hit--General Hunter's
bravado--"Long Tom" knocked out--A gymkhana under fire--Faith,
Hope, and Charity--Flash signals from the south--A new Creusot gun.

The garrison and inhabitants of Ladysmith now began to realise that
they were doomed to a long perio