e enemy on the 3rd
of November, and the mules and horses belonging to the squadron promptly
stampeded.

To return to Mafeking. The Boers had now begun their activities, and
miniature artillery duels were continually taking place between the
British and the enemy. More guns were brought to bear upon the position
by Cronje and his gang, and they set to work to do as much damage as
possible. The Convent was hit, but no one was injured. Finally, after
several days of bombardment and reciprocated shelling, Colonel
Baden-Powell decided to give the enemy a taste of cold steel. A council
of war was held, and on the 27th of October a most courageous night
attack was made on the Boer trenches by Captain FitzClarence. As
darkness descended, the little force stole noiselessly out of their
stronghold with fixed bayonets, creeping like cats along the veldt,
breath even being almost suspended lest a sound should put the enemy on
guard. Then, on a given signal--a whistle from Captain FitzClarence--the
men dashed forward on the foe, cheering lustily, while from the town the
echoes and the voices of anxious watchers gave back cheer for cheer. The
tussle was short and sharp. It was a case of fifty desperate men with
fifty bayonets dealing destruction to a roaring rabble under the
tarpaulins! Then came a storm of hostile bullets from the rear of the
trenches, a swift reply from the attacking party, followed by Captain
FitzClarence's whistle, "Cease fire. Scatter homeward." Under a
withering fire the forces obeyed, returning as they went, in silence and
in darkness. Then came the roll-call. Six were killed and eleven
wounded, but of the latter all returned, none being left on the field.
Here we may read Colonel Baden-Powell's general order:--

"The Colonel commanding wishes to record his high appreciation
of the dash with which the attack on the enemy's trenches was
carried out last night by D squadron of the Protectorate
Regiment, under Captain FitzClarence, supported by the Cape
Police under Lieutenant Murray. The whole operation was
executed exactly as was wanted, and the results, though gained
at the cost of several gallant lives, were entirely successful
and of great value. By this action the intention of the enemy
to push their intrenchments to within rifle distance of the
town has been checked, and the heavy loss that they have
sustained has given them a wholesome fear of the d