That was “Long Tom’s” last attempt at bombarding Ladysmith to-day.  He had been frequently silenced, and once apparently disabled in his heavy duel with “Lady Anne,” as Captain Lambton names the naval quick-firing gun, and a final lucky shot either put him out of action for the day or injured so many Boer gunners that their comrades did not care to “face the music” again.  While all this bombardment was going on, the telegraph staff and post-office clerks, having no work to do, amused themselves by playing cricket on the raceground within sight of the Boers on Bulwaan, and well within range of guns mounted near the crest of that hill, whence a hot fire was for some time directed towards the town.  And they played their match to a finish, though one shell burst very close to them.

Meanwhile General Brocklehurst having succeeded General French in the cavalry command, took out another flying column composed of 5th Dragoon Guards, Imperial Light Horse, Border Mounted Rifles, and one field battery, to keep the enemy in play and prevent them from mounting other guns.  He attacked the ridges about Lancer’s Nek and all his troops behaved brilliantly.  The Border Mounted Rifles in squadrons, wave behind wave, charged a kopje as if they meant to ride full tilt to its crest, but halting at its base to dismount they scaled its rugged slopes and drove the Boers back to another ridge, exchanging shots at short range with effect on both sides.  The Imperial Light Horse had meanwhile got into a tight place, and the 5th Dragoon Guards, dashing forward to their assistance were badly galled by fire from Boers concealed among rocks in front and flank.  Out of this difficulty they had to run the gauntlet for their lives, but not so hurriedly that they could not stop to help comrades in distress, and many deeds of heroism under fire made the spectators of this episode forget that some one had blundered.  The Boers got no more guns into position to-day, but we had only gained a brief respite, and at the sacrifice of some valuable lives.  Major Taunton of the Border Mounted Rifles and Captain Knapp and Lieutenant Brabant of the Imperial Light Horse were killed, and many of lower rank wounded.

CHAPTER IV

EARLY DAYS OF THE SIEGE

Moral effects of shell-fire—­General White appeals to Joubert—­The neutral camp—­Attitude of civilians—­Meeting at the Town Hall—­A veteran’s protest—­Faith in the Union Jack—­An impressive scene—­Removal of sick and wounded—­Through the Boer lines—­How the posts were manned—­Enemy mounting big guns—­More about the spies—­Boer war ethics—­In an English garden—­Throwing up defences—­A gentlemanly monster—­The Troglodytes—­Humorous and pathetic—­“Long Tom” and “Lady Anne”—­Links in the chain of fire—­A round game of ordnance.

The reconnaissance under General Brocklehurst, above described, brought home to the garrison