was slack for some time, but the Boers crept round. Then the
firing became furious. Our men made a breastwork of stones.

"After 12 o'clock there was a general cry of 'Cease fire' in
that direction. Our fellows would not stop firing. Major Adye
came up and confirmed the order to cease fire. Then the bugle
sounded 'Cease fire.' In our sangar there was a rumour that the
white flag was raised by a young officer who thought his batch
of ten men were the sole survivors.

"We were 900 alive, having started perhaps 1000. I think that
many of the battery men escaped. Our men and officers were
furious at surrendering. The Boers did not seem to be in great
numbers on the spot, but I heard that the main body had
galloped off.

"The men had to give up their arms. The officers were sent to
Commandant Steenekamp. The officers then ordered the men to
fall in. The officers were taken away from the men and sent to
General Joubert. On the same day the officers went in
mule-waggons and slept at some store _en route_, and next day
took the train at Waschbank for Pretoria. The officers are very
well treated, and so, I have heard, are the men. There has been
no unpleasantness in Pretoria. The officers are in the Model
School, and are allowed to walk as they please in the grounds.

"I think that the surrender was a great blunder, and was caused
by a misunderstanding. Major Adye was much put out. The white
flag was not hoisted by the Irish Fusiliers."

Father Matthews puts the case mildly. Some of the officers of the Irish
Fusiliers were so exasperated at the exhibition of the white flag, that
they set to work and smashed their swords rather than give them up.

The final figures of the losses sustained at Nicholson's Nek were as
follows: The total of missing of the Gloucesters and Royal Irish
Fusiliers was 843. Thirty-two of the Gloucesters, 10 of the Fusiliers,
and 10 of the Mountain Battery were found dead on the field, while 150
wounded were brought into camp at Ladysmith. Between 70 and 100 of the
men escaped and got back to camp.

THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH

It was now found necessary to issue a proclamation giving all strangers
the option of leaving the town at twenty-four hours' notice. In spite of
this notice, however, many civilians remained. Meanwhile, shells
continued to drop uproar