endeavours to drive him off some new developments took place, which formed for one brisk hour a reversion to picturesque warfare.  Perceiving a gap in the enemy’s line, Hamilton pushed up the famous Q battery—­the guns which had plucked glory out of disaster at Sanna’s Post.  For the second time in one campaign they were exposed and in imminent danger of capture.  A body of mounted Boers with great dash and hardihood galloped down within close range and opened fire.  Instantly the 12th Lancers were let loose upon them.  How they must have longed for their big-boned long-striding English troop horses as they strove to raise a gallop out of their spiritless overworked Argentines!  For once, however, the lance meant more than five pounds dead weight and an encumbrance to the rider.  The guns were saved, the Boers fled, and a dozen were left upon the ground.  But a cavalry charge has to end in a re-formation, and that is the instant of danger if any unbroken enemy remains within range.  Now a sleet of bullets hissed through their ranks as they retired, and the gallant Lord Airlie, as modest and brave a soldier as ever drew sword, was struck through the heart.  ‘Pray moderate your language!’ was his last characteristic remark, made to a battle-drunken sergeant.  Two officers, seventeen men, and thirty horses went down with their Colonel, the great majority only slightly injured.  In the meantime the increasing pressure upon his right caused Broadwood to order a second charge, of the Life Guards this time, to drive off the assailants.  The appearance rather than the swords of the Guards prevailed, and cavalry as cavalry had vindicated their existence more than they had ever done during the campaign.  The guns were saved, the flank attack was rolled back, but one other danger had still to be met, for the Heidelberg commando—­a corps d’elite of the Boers—­had made its way outside Hamilton’s flank and threatened to get past him.  With cool judgment the British General detached a battalion and a section of a battery, which pushed the Boers back into a less menacing position.  The rest of Bruce Hamilton’s Brigade were ordered to advance upon the hills in front, and, aided by a heavy artillery fire, they had succeeded, before the closing in of the winter night, in getting possession of this first line of the enemy’s defences.  Night fell upon an undecided fight, which, after swaying this way and that, had finally inclined to the side of the British.  The Sussex and the City Imperial Volunteers were clinging to the enemy’s left flank, while the 11th Division were holding them in front.  All promised well for the morrow.