CHAPTER VI

A MONTH UNDER SHELL FIRE

The first siege-baby—­An Irish-American deserter—­A soldierly grumble—­Boer cunning and Staff-College strategy—­An ammunition difficulty—­The tireless cavalry—­A white flag incident—­What the Boer Commandant understood—­The Natal summer—­Mere sound and fury—­Boer Sabbatarianism—­Naval guns at work—­“Puffing Billy” of Bulwaan—­Intrepid Boer gunners—­The barking of “Pom-Poms”—­Another reconnaissance—­“Like scattered bands of Red Indians”—­A futile endeavour—­A night alarm—­Recommended for the V.C.—­A man of straw in khaki—­The Boer search-light—­Shelling of the hospital—­General White protests—­The first woman hit—­General Hunter’s bravado—­“Long Tom” knocked out—­A gymkhana under fire—­Faith, Hope, and Charity—­Flash signals from the south—­A new Creusot gun.

The garrison and inhabitants of Ladysmith now began to realise that they were doomed to a long period of inactivity if to nothing more serious.  The days immediately following the Boer attempt of 9th November were quiet, rain and mist interfering with the enemy’s bombardment.  November 12 was, however, a somewhat eventful day, owing to the birth of the first siege-baby, and the arrival in camp of an Irish-American deserter from the Boers.

The baby, says Mr. Pearse in his diary (12th November), was born, not in a dug-out by the river, but at a farm on a hill in the centre of defensive works, where Mr. and Mrs. Moore, with their other children, have elected to take the chances, near where I and other correspondents have pitched our tents.  Mrs. Moore made one trial of an underground shelter, and then gave it up, saying that she should certainly die in that damp atmosphere, so that it would be better to take the risk of living where one could get fresh air, even though exposed to shells.  The Irish-American’s story, though not to be swallowed without salt, tended to confirm some things that seemed strange in the fight of three days earlier, when, as will be remembered, Lieutenant Fisher’s detachment claimed to have shot many of a body that marched into action boldly with a red flag flaunting at their head.  The deserter said that the Irish brigade that day lost heavily, having now only seventy-three left of the original three hundred and fifty, and that ten Irishmen were killed by one of our shells.

It was not with a good grace that Sir George White’s garrison resigned themselves to inaction.  Their state of mind is shown clearly enough by Mr. Pearse in a letter written on 14th November, and describing the situation at this period.

November 14.—­The British troops here have their backs up now, and grumble at the fate that chains them to a passive defence, when they would wish for nothing better than to try conclusions with their foes at close quarters.  Sir George White knows best the part that he is expected to play in