’The marching would be tolerable were it not for the heat and dust, the latter lying in some places quite nine inches deep, rising in clouds.  It fills your eyes, nostrils, mouth and throat, causing one’s lips to crack and bringing on an intolerable thirst, which makes it impossible for the men to be very fastidious, or even prudent with regard to the quality or source of the water which they greedily drink.  At night when we reach our camping-ground our first thought is of our great-coats, for we are bathed in perspiration, and as the sun goes down about 5.30, night immediately following without any twilight, the intense heat of the almost tropical day is changed in a few minutes into the bitter cold of what might almost be called, from its length and severity, an Arctic night.

’At the Zand River I saw my first fight.  That morning, as the troops were drawn up in marching order, the ominous command was given, “Charge magazines,” and every man knew that something was about to happen, and a murmur ran along the ranks.  After an hour’s march we came in sight of the Zand River, with its kopjes on the farther side.  As our battalion came in view of the river we saw the enemy’s guns flashing on the distant kopjes, and showers of shells fell on this side the river into the trees in our front.  On our right some mounted infantry were lying behind a kopje, and nothing could be more magnificent than to see the volleying shells burst in a successive line along the ridge of their sheltering kopje.  At the edge of the wood we were halted and ordered to lie down; as the artillery dashed by us to the front, where they were soon busily pounding the Boer position, “Advance!” our Colonel cried.  Up we arose, marched through the trees down into the river-bed, and there we lay while the shells screamed over us.

’The first shell that came screaming—­I can use no better term—­towards us seemed to cause a cold feeling inside, and I felt as though my last hour had come; but that soon passed, and I became so accustomed to them that I found myself speculating as to where they would burst.  While we lay in the river-bed, one monster burst with a roar like thunder upon the bank behind, shaking the ground like an earthquake.

’Our rest here was the calm before the storm, and as we awaited the word to advance into the fight that was raging overhead, I had an opportunity of studying the faces of the soldiers who were going, perhaps, to death.  Some were pale with excitement, and their eyes flashed as they clutched their rifles and compressed their lips.  Others laughed wildly, another was hungrily gnawing a hard biscuit, while many were smoking furiously.  A few appeared quite indifferent, and might have been awaiting the order for a march.  The officers were splendidly cool, and gave their orders as clearly and calmly as on parade.

=On the Firing Line.=