he general orders were as follows: "At three A.M. Guards Brigade to
advance from small white house near railway on Gun Kopje, supported by
battery on right plus Naval Brigade; 9th Brigade on west side of Table
Mountain; at same hour, bearing already taken, supported by battery on
left, 9th Lancers, two squadrons, one company Mounted Infantry,
marching north of Belmont Station, keeping one to two miles on left
flank and advanced; Rimington's Guides, one squadron Lancers, one
company Mounted Infantry from Witte Putt to east of Sugar Loaf; one
company Mounted Infantry on right of Naval Brigade, protecting right;
the force having got over open ground should arrive at daybreak on
enemy; 9th Brigade having secured Table Mountain to swing round left and
keep on high ground, and then advance east to west on A (on plan; not
printed); Guards Brigade conform, being pivot; then Guards advance on
east edge of Mount Blanc, guns clearing entire advance with shrapnel;
cavalry to get round rear of enemy, securing horses and laager."

[Illustration: LORD METHUEN'S LINE OF ADVANCE]

This carefully-arranged programme, however, was not followed in its
entirety. In the grim blackness of the small hours the Grenadiers lost
direction, and Lord Methuen was committed to a frontal attack. But still
the attack was a brilliant success. The Boers were caught napping, for
they were in the happy belief that the troops were still at Witte Putt
at the very hour when they were marching steadily upon them.

The infantry tramped four miles in pitch darkness and took up their
position on a long low hill facing the enemy. The Boers occupied a
magnificent horseshoe-shaped position on a series of kopjes and ridges
eastward of Belmont railway station. As usual, they had utilised the
boulders as screens, behind which they could safely blaze away at the
advancing ranks. Near daybreak--the hot summer morning dawned about four
o'clock--firing began. The Guards had opened out for the attack, and the
Boers, suddenly espying them from the heights, thereupon commenced to
pelt and batter them. The Scots and Grenadiers nevertheless proceeded.
Their position was far from comfortable, as it was necessary to cross
some hundred yards of arid open veldt with no cover at all, while the
enemy, ensconced behind tremendous rocks some 500 feet above their
level, had nothing to do but to point their rifles and send their
bullets whizzing at the advancing mass. But the Guards stout