Yorkshire Light Infantry. With the 9th was the Naval Brigade,
commanded by Captain Prothero. At six o'clock an active artillery duel
began, the guns of the foe being splendidly posted, and their range, as
before-said, carefully calculated. Their shells burst with appalling
fracas over our batteries, but the brave British gunners never swerved.
They gave the Boers some smart and telling replies, and presently, on
withdrawing their guns to a new position, quite defeated the
calculations of the enemy, whose shells now began to fall wide of the
mark. The rifle-fire of the Dutchmen was not so accurate as usual, and
was evidently under no control, though there were sharpshooters who
crept under cover for the purpose of sniping at any prominent person who
might be taken for an officer. As has been stated, there was now no
outward or visible sign of rank, so for the time being the enemy's
efforts were unsuccessful. They were more deadly--grievously
deadly--however, when the gallant Naval Brigade, the officers of which
were distinguishable by their swords, came to the foot of the hill. The
fire from the kopjes was terrific, and every moment men threw up their
arms and fell. They had advanced in extended order, but in converging
upon the position to be taken, found themselves closed in, and in that
formation attempted the ascent.

Meanwhile the rest of the infantry was moving forward in preparation for
attack. The Northamptons worked from the left round to the right, where
they were joined by the Yorkshires and Northumberlands. All this time a
scene of terrific slaughter was taking place, a tremendous and unceasing
fire being poured from the Boer positions upon our steadily advancing
men. But these were undefeatable, the 2nd Yorkshire Light Infantry, the
Marines, and the 1st North Lancashire acquitting themselves nobly in a
most perilous situation. One after another of their numbers dropped.
Stones and sand were heaped with the mutilated and fainting, and dyed
with the life-blood of trusty comrades that a moment ago had been hearty
and hale; but on they went, these gallant lads, while a storm of
shrapnel bellowed overhead, and bullets whistled past their ears, and
dust and dirt blinded their eyes. With a ringing cheer the Yorkshire men
directed a fusilade towards the crest of the enemy's sangar, and then
the whole mass crawled up with splendid effort, neared the summit, and
prepared to charge. The Boers, however, began discreetly