flash, and the blood to run hotly in
men's veins.

Those who had hitherto counselled that the English settlers should
remain neutral in the contest were now as eager as the rest in their
demands that the place should be defended. There was but one company of
British troops in the town; but within an hour of the story of the
massacre being known 150 men had put down their names to form a corps;
officers were chosen, and these at once waited upon the captain in
command of the troops, and placed themselves under his orders.

The next morning scores of men set to work throwing up a breastwork
round the place, cutting; holes in the walls and houses for musketry,
and preparing to defend the little town to the last against any attack
of the Boers.

The moment that he had heard from the lads of the disaster to the 94th,
the officer in command despatched a horseman to carry the news at full
speed to Sir G. Pomeroy Colley, who was advancing towards Newcastle
with the troops from Natal.

The same night a messenger rode in, saying that the Boers had raised
their flag at Pretoria, had killed several English there, and were
preparing to attack the little British force encamped at a small
distance from the town; that at Potchefstroom they had also attacked the
troops; and that the insurrection was general.

The next morning the lads mounted and proceeded on their way, and
reached home late that evening, to the immense delight of their parents.

The news of the rising created a fever of excitement throughout Natal.
H.M.S. _Boadicea_ landed a rocket-battery and a naval brigade, who at
once marched up towards the front; and Sir. G.P. Colley, who commanded
the forces, hurried every available man towards Newcastle, as the Boers
were advancing in force towards the frontier, and were preparing to
invade Natal.

Every day brought fresh news from the Transvaal. The little towns where
the British were centred, isolated and alone as they were in the midst
of a hostile country, in every case prepared to defend themselves to the
last; and at Potchefstroom, Wackerstroom, Standerton, Leydenberg, and
other places the Boers, attempting to carry the towns were vigorously
repulsed. The pews, that a large force of Boers was marching against
Newcastle caused great excitement in that portion of Natal; here large
numbers of Dutch were settled, and the colonists were consequently
divided into hostile camps. Large numbers of British colonists