desirous of crossing the river with at least part of his force. For
this purpose he had brought on the train a boat, which was promptly
launched. As, however, the boat was small, and hardly capable of
holding more than four men, the General gave orders for the
construction of a raft. After some trouble this was ready by 4 p.m.,
and some two hours later about seven companies of the Connaught
Rangers had succeeded in reaching the left bank.

General Hart now received an order to cross early next morning, with
three battalions of his brigade, the pontoon bridge, which had been
constructed under Hlangwane. The regiment bivouacked in Colenso, and
at 5 a.m. on February 22nd marched down the right bank and crossed the
bridge. One company had been sent back to Chieveley for the purpose of
striking the camp, and with the transport rejoined the battalion about
7 a.m., after the latter had crossed the bridge and taken up a
position on the western side of the horseshoe ridge.

Here it stayed the whole day, all ranks passing the time in examining
the Boer trenches, and picking up more or less worthless loot. Heavy
fighting was taking place in front, but only an occasional shell fell
near the ridge.

CHAPTER VIII.

HART'S AND PIETER'S HILLS--THE RELIEF OF LADYSMITH.

'But since I knew
No rock so hard but that a little wave
May beat admission in a thousand years,
I re-commenced.'

_Tennyson._

Late on February 22nd, orders were issued for the brigade[5] to be
ready to move at an early hour next morning. Breakfasts were eaten
before 4 a.m., and the battalion fell in at about 4.15 on February
23rd. The brigade was to move from the left to the right of the army,
and it was probably the intention of the Headquarter Staff for the
march to take place during darkness. But there was a hitch in the
distribution of biscuits, and it was already broad daylight when we
started.

[Footnote 5: The Borders had been left behind at Chieveley.
In their place General Hart received half a battalion of the
newly-raised Imperial Light Infantry.]

General Hart moved his command in column of route, and the long line
soon attracted the notice of the enemy's artillery. It was somewhat
trying to the nerves to hear the whistle of a shell coming nearer and
nearer, until finally it struck the ground within a few yards of the
column. Luckily, the Boers were either us