"The artillery-fire (the "Zwartkop" guns and other
batteries) was then hurriedly aimed at the isolated
"Vaalkrantz" (the real object of the attack), and had a
terrific effect. It is doubtful whether ever before a
position has been exposed to such an awful bombardment. The
weight of the ammunition fired by some of the cannon was
greater than that of an entire German battery during the
Franco-Prussian war."

Prince Kraft describes the 4 and 6-pounders as mere toys compared with
machine Howitzer and 4.7 guns.

Dr. Doyle, however, is not sure about the effect of these powerful
guns, for he says:--

"Although the rims of the kopje were being pounded by
lyddite and other bombs it is doubtful whether this terrific
fire did much damage among the enemy, as seven English
officers and 70 men were lying dead on the kopje against
only a few Boers, who were found to have been wounded."

Of the pom-pom, which I succeeded in saving from the enemy's hands,
the same writer says:--

"It was during this attack that something happened of a more
picturesque and romantic nature than is usually the case in
modern warfare; here it was not a question of combatants and
guns being invisible or the destruction of a great mass of
people. In this case it concerns a Boer gun, cut off by the
British troops, which all of a sudden came out of its
hiding-place and scampered away like a frightened hare from
his lair. It fled from the danger as fast as the mules' legs
would take it, nearly overturning, and jolting and knocking
against the rocks, while the driver bent forward as far as
he could to protect himself from the shower of bullets which
were whistling round his ears in all directions. British
shells to the right of him, shells to the left of him
bursting and spluttering, lyddite shrapnel fuming and
fizzing and making the splinters fly. But over the "randtje"
the gun disappeared, and in a few minutes after it was in
position again, and dealing death and destruction amongst
the British assailants."

While I was under treatment in Dr. Shaw's ambulance I was honoured by
a visit from General Joubert, who came to compliment me on what he
called the splendid defence of Vaalkrantz, and to express his regret
at the heavy loss sustained by our commando. I heard from Dr. Shaw
that after the battle the