defenders with great enthusiasm. Mr.
Rhodes afterwards made an amusing speech to the Volunteers, complimented
them on their splendid work, and explained that there was one man whom
the Boers wished to capture, and that man was himself. Owing to the
efficiency of the troops, however, he declared that he rejoiced in a
sense of complete security. Cheers followed, for the Queen, the
Governor, Mr. Rhodes, and the officers of the corps. After this things
were fairly quiet, though the garrison remained on the alert. Lord
Methuen, it became known, had started from the Orange River on the 22nd,
and was daily decreasing the distance between his relieving force and
the town; and, in order to meet his energetic advance, the Boers were
unable to afford a sufficient number of troops to force the town into
surrender. So Kimberley kept up its spirits--it viewed life with "one
auspicious and one drooping eye"--mingling the discharge of guns with
the chime of marriage-bells. This is no figure of speech, for there was
actually a wedding--two people, at least, having found time to be
romantic in their love amid the storm and stress of war. A dance and a
concert also took place. Indeed, things were conducted with such high
spirit and in so convivial a manner that it might have been imagined
that the Boers were commissioned to supply the fireworks, and that a
species of "Brock's benefit" was got up whenever events were inclined to
wax monotonous. Reports computed the investing force at 4000, and it was
further stated that General Cronje's commando would be reinforced by the
arrival of some 1500 more. Yet the gallant little town smiled within
itself and said "The more the merrier." Colonel Scott Turner made a
reconnaissance on the 1st of November, found the enemy posted on a
kopje, was thundered at with thirteen shells, but returned with his
force in safety. On the 4th of November Commandant Wessels invited
Colonel Kekewich to hand over the troops and town on pain of
bombardment. The exact terms of the invitation are not known, but some
portions of the communication were as follows:--

"In case your Honour should determine not to comply with this
demand, I hereby request your Honour to allow all women and
children to leave Kimberley, so that they may be placed out of
danger, and for this purpose your Honour is granted time from
noon on Saturday, November 4, 1899, to 6 A.M. on Monday,
November 6, 1899. I further g