July 6.—­Reveille was marked by a Boer shell coming over the camp, followed by others in quick succession, real good bursting shrapnel, a rare thing for the Boers to possess, but they came from a long range and burst too high.  Nobody took the least notice, and we went on harnessing and breakfasting as usual.  It is strange how soon one gets a contempt for shells.  In about half an hour the firing stopped.  We hooked in, but unhooked again, and rode to water.  There is some delay; waiting for Clements, perhaps.  I write this sitting by my horses in a hot sun, with the water frozen to a solid lump in the bottle at my back, through the felt cover, and after being under a harness sheet all the night.  Had a jolly talk with some Paddies of the Munster Fusiliers, about Ireland, etc.  They were miserable, “fed up,” but merry; that strange combination one sees so much of out here.  They talked about the revels they would have when they got home, the beef, bacon, and stout, but chiefly stout.  We have already learnt to respect and admire the infantry of our brigade, and I think the confidence is mutual. (Starting.)

(4.30).—­We have had a hard day’s marching a long distance out on the right flank.  There is a biggish battle proceeding.

I think Clements’s brigade has joined ours, for our front is some miles in length, with the wavy lines of khaki figures advancing slowly and steadily, covered by artillery fire.  The 38th are with us.  We have been in action several times in successive positions, but the chief attack seems to be on a steep conical kopje in the centre, behind and below which lies Bethlehem, I believe.  It is just dark, but heavy rifle-firing is still going on in front.  One of our gunners has been shot in the knee.  We camped near our last firing position, but waited a long time for our transport and its precious freight of cooks and “dickseys” (camp-kettles).  Williams and I ruthlessly chopped down parts of a very good fence, and made a fire with the wood and a lot of dry mealy stalks, which burn furiously.  Then we and Ramsey cooked our meat in our mess-tin lids, and made cocoa with water which Ramsey fetched from some distance.  It was a thick brown fluid, and froze while we were waiting to put it on, but it tasted excellent.

July 7.—­Reveille at 3.45.  We marched out about a mile and waited for the dawn.

7 A.M.—­At first dawn firing began, and we went into action at once, as did the whole line of infantry.  A tremendous fusillade of shells and bullets is now being poured upon the position in front, and chiefly on the central conical kopje.  My waggon is halted, waiting to go up.  The sun is just getting strength, warming our numbed feet, and spiriting away the white frost-mantle that the land always wears at dawn.