r taken prisoners. The hilltop was
covered with the bodies of the brave fellows, who had fought to the
last. Even while he spoke we could see the desperate retreat had
begun, and a few desperate figures were seen struggling down among
the stones and boulders. Our men were flying, there was no doubt
about that now. In a few minutes the enemy would be upon us, but we
were prepared for them. I never saw men steadier or more prepared
to fight, although, as I glanced round, I felt how hopeless such a
fight would be. My fear, however, did not seem to be participated
in by either officers or men, for Captain Robertson (the officer in
command) at once began his preparation for a determined resistance.
The ammunition boxes were opened, and placed at equal convenient
distances all round the entrenchment. Half the entrenchment was
manned by the Highlanders, and the other half by Rifles. These
preparations were quietly and promptly made. The men were silent,
but steady. Looking round, every face was set with a grave
determination 'to do,' and there was not a word audible as the
orders were spoken and the commands obeyed. The low (and to an
experienced eye) fragile turf walls that were to offer shelter
seemed but poor defences, now that they were to be tried. They were
only about four feet high by two feet thick, with one exit at the
rear, and could never have stood before a fire such as was even now
pouring down the slope of Majuba. The wounded were now being
brought in rapidly by our mounted Hussars, who did their work
steadily. Some of the poor fellows were terribly wounded, and
though Surgeon-Major Cornish did his best for them unassisted, many
had to lie unattended to in their suffering. All brought the same
bitter news of defeat and annihilation, not very reassuring to our
little force, which was now about to take its part in the day's
engagement. As suddenly as it began, the firing as suddenly ceased;
and we knew that the dreadful task of clearing the heights was
done, and our resistance about to begin. We could see the Boers
clustering like a swarm of bees at the edge of our ridge. Every
moment we expected a rush and an attack. But they hesitated. They
were waiting--waiting for the party of some 600 or 700 mounted
Boers, who presently appeared upon our le