Lyttelton’s Brigade, then, held Vaalkranz; and from three parts of the compass there came big shells and little shells, with a constant shower of long-range rifle bullets.  Behind them, and as useful as if it had been on Woolwich Common, there was drawn up an imposing mass of men, two infantry divisions, and two brigades of cavalry, all straining at the leash, prepared to shed their blood until the spruits ran red with it, if only they could win their way to where their half-starved comrades waited for them.  But nothing happened.  Hours passed and nothing happened.  An occasional shell from the big gun plumped among them.  One, through some freak of gunnery, lobbed slowly through a division, and the men whooped and threw their caps at it as it passed.  The guns on Swartz Kop, at a range of nearly five miles, tossed shells at the monster on Doornkloof, and finally blew up his powder magazine amid the applause of the infantry.  For the army it was a picnic and a spectacle.

But it was otherwise with the men up on Vaalkranz.  In spite of sangar and trench, that cross fire was finding them out; and no feint or demonstration on either side came to draw the concentrated fire from their position.  Once there was a sudden alarm at the western end of the hill, and stooping bearded figures with slouch hats and bandoliers were right up on the ridge before they could be stopped, so cleverly had their advance been conducted.  But a fiery rush of Durhams and Rifles cleared the crest again, and it was proved once more how much stronger is the defence than the attack.  Nightfall found the position unchanged, save that another pontoon bridge had been constructed during the day.  Over this Hildyard’s Brigade marched to relieve Lyttelton’s, who came back for a rest under the cover of the Swartz Kop guns.  Their losses in the two days had been under two hundred and fifty, a trifle if any aim were to be gained, but excessive for a mere demonstration.

That night Hildyard’s men supplemented the defences made by Lyttelton, and tightened their hold upon the hill.  One futile night attack caused them for an instant to change the spade for the rifle.  When in the morning it was found that the Boers had, as they naturally would, brought up their outlying guns, the tired soldiers did not regret their labours of the night.  It was again demonstrated how innocuous a thing is a severe shell fire, if the position be an extended one with chances of cover.  A total of forty killed and wounded out of a strong brigade was the result of a long day under an incessant cannonade.  And then at nightfall came the conclusion that the guns were too many, that the way was too hard, and down came all their high hopes with the order to withdraw once more across that accursed river.  Vaalkranz was abandoned, and Hildyard’s Brigade, seething with indignation, was ordered back once more to its camp.

CHAPTER 17.