t was quite possible the main attack might be intended for
Heidelberg, we took all necessary precautions for the safety of the
town.

[Footnote 10: 130 Somersets, 2 guns, 1 pompom, 140 Marshall's
Horse.]

Before General Hart's force arrived, the Boers had commenced to
withdraw, having discovered that on this occasion they had attacked a
veritable hornet's nest.

The hill on which Major English had dug his entrenchments is situated
in the angle made by the Zuikerbosch River where it turns sharply to
the south, and was on the left bank of the stream. On the other side
of the river was the hill occupied by the Royal Engineers. Between
these two was the new deviation bridge then under construction. The
Kaffirs lived in the hollow between the hills, as did also the
Yeomanry, of whom there were about ten, under a very young officer.
Major English had given this officer orders that, on any attack taking
place, he should at once lead his horses down to the river, where
there was a kind of hollow place which would have afforded them
excellent cover. This order, however, probably from the suddenness of
the attack, was not complied with in time, and the horses were in
consequence stampeded almost immediately. The natives also were not
long in effecting a rapid southerly movement, for which, of course,
they cannot be blamed, and the Boers shelled them lustily as they
streamed away.

The Royal Dublin Fusiliers' camp was on the southern slope of the
hill, the summit being occupied at night by alternate companies, who
stood to arms shortly before dawn. Captain Shewan was on the hill, and
on the point of letting the men fall out, when the attack commenced.
The trenches were at once manned without the slightest noise or
confusion, and the Boers' rifle-fire vigorously replied to.

The two Boer guns were in position on the hills to the north, some
3400 yards off, while the pompom came into action near the Fortuna
coal-mine. Owing to the excellent disposition and construction of the
defences, the enemy's fire made little or no impression, until after a
time they began to move round to the flanks of the position. Their
rifle-fire then began to have some effect, but at the same time the
fire of the defence had a better target, and after a short time the
burghers commenced to withdraw from the rear face of the work. In the
meantime they had swung round to the west of the Engineers' hill, and
under cover of a grass fir