e at dawn and found him with other wounded; but his
fall was quickly avenged, for his company charged gallantly, and made a
way for themselves clean through the Boers. Colonel Metcalfe succeeded
in bringing the main body of his troops away in unbroken formation, the
detached sections following, and quickly falling into order ready for
another fight; but the Boers did not molest them again, though we know
now that reinforcements numbering over 2000 had been specially sent
that night to guard against a possible attack on Surprise Hill.

When our ambulance detachments went forward at daybreak they were fired
upon, though Commandant Erasmus had sent under a flag of truce asking
that surgeons and burying parties should go out from our camp. The
medical staff were also made prisoners, and sent before Erasmus and
Schalk-Burger, who, after many questions, released them with the most
seriously wounded, among whom was Captain Paley. Lieutenant Ferguson
died before he could be brought in. Our losses in this night attack, or
rather in the fight that followed it, were 11 killed and 43 wounded,
including Colonel Metcalfe slightly, Captain Paley, Captain Gough,
Lieutenant Brand, and Lieutenant Davenport.

CHAPTER VIII

AFTER COLENSO

The Town-Guard called out--Echoes of Colenso--Heliograms from
Buller--The Boers and Dingaan's Day--Disappointing news--Special
correspondents summoned--Victims of the bombardment--Shaving under
shell fire--Tea with Lord Ava--Boer humour: "Where is Buller?"--Sir
George White's narrow escape--A disastrous shot--Fiftieth day of
the siege--Grave and gay--"What does England think of us?"--Stoical
artillerymen--The moral courage of caution--How Doctor Stark was
killed--Serious thoughts--Gordons at play--Boers watch the match--A
story by the way--"My name is Viljoen"--How Major King won his
liberty--A tribute to Boer hospitality--General White and
Schalk-Burger--A coward chastised--"Sticking it out."

The week that followed the sortie to Surprise Hill must have been
one of intense anxiety to Sir George White and his Staff. The
attack on the enemy's gun positions coincided with General Sir
Redvers Buller's preparations to force the passage of the Tugela at
Colenso, and to march to the relief of Ladysmith. This, however,
was not generally known in the town, which was engaged by what was
taking place nearer at han