It was almost impossible to see anything a yard off.  One man felt something brush against him, and said by way of precaution, “Third Rifle Brigade?” “Yes,” was the response, but at that moment the rattle of a rifle warned him.  He saw something white, which was certainly not part of a British soldier’s campaigning uniform, and, driving at that, got his bayonet into a Dutchman’s shirt just in time to save himself from being shot.  An officer had an exciting bout with a Kaffir who was fighting on the Boer side, the weapon on one side being a broomstick that had been used as an alpenstock for hill-climbing, and on the other a Mauser rifle which the Kaffir had no chance to reload, so quickly were the blows showered upon him, and a bayonet-thrust delivered at hazard as he ran put an end to his fighting for the time at least.  Our men were dropping fast from rifle shots, and they had somehow missed touch with Captain Paley’s company.  That officer’s name was called several times, but no answer came until the Boers on one side began shouting in good English, “Captain Paley, here is your company, sir,” and a few men decoyed that way were shot down.  The difficulty of finding wounded comrades in the darkness was great, but still several gallant fellows made the attempt, and brought no less than thirty-five out of the fight over ground so broken that they frequently stumbled and fell with their groaning burdens.  One of them begged to be left there, but his entreaties were met with the response, “Oh, cheer up, old chum; a stretcher in camp is better than a cell in Pretoria.”

While these gallant acts of mercy were being done by men whose blood had been at fighting heat but a few minutes before, their comrades were forming for a charge on dongas thick with Boers, whose rifles rang out incessantly.  Bayonets soon did their work.  Before that charge the Boers would not stand, but fled off to fire from a safer distance.  One lying wounded held some papers up, and said, “I am an American correspondent”; but unfortunately for him he had a rifle in his hand and it was hot.  Captain Paley, at first returned as missing, was, as it happens, leading that charge at one point.  Hearing calls for him he led his company towards them, but likewise found himself discovered, and had just ordered the charge when three bullets bowled him over, and he lay there until the enemy came at dawn and found him with other wounded; but his fall was quickly avenged, for his company charged gallantly, and made a way for themselves clean through the Boers.  Colonel Metcalfe succeeded in bringing the main body of his troops away in unbroken formation, the detached sections following, and quickly falling into order ready for another fight; but the Boers did not molest them again, though we know now that reinforcements numbering over 2000 had been specially sent that night to guard against a possible attack on Surprise Hill.