CHAPTER 16.

Vaalkranz.

Neither General Buller nor his troops appeared to be dismayed by the failure of their plans, or by the heavy losses which were entailed by the movement which culminated at Spion Kop.  The soldiers grumbled, it is true, at not being let go, and swore that even if it cost them two-thirds of their number they could and would make their way through this labyrinth of hills with its fringe of death.  So doubtless they might.  But from first to last their General had shown a great—­some said an exaggerated—­respect for human life, and he had no intention of winning a path by mere slogging, if there were a chance of finding one by less bloody means.  On the morrow of his return he astonished both his army and the Empire by announcing that he had found the key to the position and that he hoped to be in Ladysmith in a week.  Some rejoiced in the assurance.  Some shrugged their shoulders.  Careless of friends or foes, the stolid Buller proceeded to work out his new combination.

In the next few days reinforcements trickled in which more than made up for the losses of the preceding week.  A battery of horse artillery, two heavy guns, two squadrons of the 14th Hussars, and infantry drafts to the number of twelve or fourteen hundred men came to share the impending glory or disaster.  On the morning of February 5th the army sallied forth once more to have another try to win a way to Ladysmith.  It was known that enteric was rife in the town, that shell and bullet and typhoid germ had struck down a terrible proportion of the garrison, and that the rations of starved horse and commissariat mule were running low.  With their comrades—­in many cases their linked battalions—­in such straits within fifteen miles of them, Buller’s soldiers had high motives to brace them for a supreme effort.

The previous attempt had been upon the line immediately to the west of Spion Kop.  If, however, one were to follow to the east of Spion Kop, one would come upon a high mountain called Doornkloof.  Between these two peaks, there lies a low ridge, called Brakfontein, and a small detached hill named Vaalkranz.  Buller’s idea was that if he could seize this small Vaalkranz, it would enable him to avoid the high ground altogether and pass his troops through on to the plateau beyond.  He still held the Ford at Potgieter’s and commanded the country beyond with heavy guns on Mount Alice and at Swartz Kop, so that he could pass troops over at his will.  He would make a noisy demonstration against Brakfontein, then suddenly seize Vaalkranz, and so, as he hoped, hold the outer door which opened on to the passage to Ladysmith.