or imminent prospects of European complications, every week which passed was in our favour.  There was therefore a long lull in the war, during which Methuen strengthened his position at Modder River, Gatacre held his own at Sterkstroom, and Buller built up his strength for another attempt at the relief of Ladysmith.  The only connected series of operations during that time were those of General French in the neighbourhood of Colesberg, an account of which will be found in their entirety elsewhere.  A short narrative may be given here of the doings of each of these forces until the period of inaction came to an end.

Methuen after the repulse at Magersfontein had fallen back upon the lines of Modder River, and had fortified them in such a way that he felt himself secure against assault.  Cronje, on the other hand, had extended his position both to the right and to the left, and had strengthened the works which we had already found so formidable.  In this way a condition of inaction was established which was really very much to our advantage, since Methuen retained his communications by rail, while all supplies to Cronje had to come a hundred miles by road.  The British troops, and especially the Highland Brigade, were badly in need of a rest after the very severe ordeal which they had undergone.  General Hector Macdonald, whose military record had earned the soldierly name of ’Fighting Mac,’ was sent for from India to take the place of the ill-fated Wauchope.  Pending his arrival and that of reinforcements, Methuen remained quiet, and the Boers fortunately followed his example.  From over the northern horizon those silver flashes of light told that Kimberley was dauntless in the present and hopeful of the future.  On January 1st the British post of Kuruman fell, by which twelve officers and 120 police were captured.  The town was isolated, and its capture could have no effect upon the general operations, but it is remarkable as the only capture of a fortified post up to this point made by the Boers.

The monotony of the long wait was broken by one dashing raid carried out by a detachment from Methuen’s line of communications.  This force consisted of 200 Queenslanders, 100 Canadians (Toronto Company), 40 mounted Munster Fusiliers, a New South Wales Ambulance, and 200 of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry with one horse battery.  This singular force, so small in numbers and yet raked from the ends of the earth, was under the command of Colonel Pilcher.  Moving out suddenly and rapidly from Belmont, it struck at the extreme right of the Boer line, which consisted of a laager occupied by the colonial rebels of that part of the country.  Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm of the colonists at the prospect of action.  ‘At last!’ was the cry which went up from the Canadians when they were ordered to advance.  The result was an absolute success.  The rebels broke and fled, their camp was taken, and forty of them fell into our hands.  Our own loss was slight,