For a time they were able to keep some cover, and the casualties were comparatively few.  But now at last, as the evening sun threw a long shadow from the hills, the leading regiment, the Inniskillings, found themselves at the utmost fringe of boulders with a clear slope between them and the main trench of the enemy.  Up there where the shrapnel was spurting and the great lyddite shells crashing they could dimly see a line of bearded faces and the black dots of the slouch hats.  With a yell the Inniskillings sprang out, carried with a rush the first trench, and charged desperately onwards for the second one.  It was a supremely dashing attack against a supremely steady resistance, for among all their gallant deeds the Boers have never fought better than on that February evening.  Amid such a smashing shell fire as living mortals have never yet endured they stood doggedly, these hardy men of the veld, and fired fast and true into the fiery ranks of the Irishmen.  The yell of the stormers was answered by the remorseless roar of the Mausers and the deep-chested shouts of the farmers.  Up and up surged the infantry, falling, rising, dashing bull-headed at the crackling line of the trench.  But still the bearded faces glared at them over the edge, and still the sheet of lead pelted through their ranks.  The regiment staggered, came on, staggered again, was overtaken by supporting companies of the Dublins and the Connaughts, came on, staggered once more, and finally dissolved into shreds, who ran swiftly back for cover, threading their way among their stricken comrades.  Never on this earth was there a retreat of which the survivors had less reason to be ashamed.  They had held on to the utmost capacity of human endurance.  Their Colonel, ten officers, and more than half the regiment were lying on the fatal hill.  Honour to them, and honour also to the gallant Dutchmen who, rooted in the trenches, had faced the rush and fury of such an onslaught!  Today to them, tomorrow to us—­but it is for a soldier to thank the God of battles for worthy foes.

It is one thing, however, to repulse the British soldier and it is another to rout him.  Within a few hundred yards of their horrible ordeal at Magersfontein the Highlanders reformed into a military body.  So now the Irishmen fell back no further than the nearest cover, and there held grimly on to the ground which they had won.  If you would know the advantage which the defence has over the attack, then do you come and assault this line of tenacious men, now in your hour of victory and exultation, friend Boer!  Friend Boer did attempt it, and skilfully too, moving a flanking party to sweep the position with their fire.  But the brigade, though sorely hurt, held them off without difficulty, and was found on the morning of the 24th to be still lying upon the ground which they had won.