e by indulging in various practical jokes at the expense
of the Boers. The greatest achievement was the preparation of a smart
dummy, on which the irate Dutchmen wasted a considerable amount of
ammunition. The effigy was manufactured of straw and attired in the
uniform of the Lancers, by whom it was modelled. Its imposing form,
placed near the Boer position, had an air of lifelike reality, and
naturally the enemy jumped at a chance of riddling so venturesome a foe.
Away whistled Mauser bullets round the head of the supposed courageous
Lancer, who budged never a bit. Shot failing--the big gun was turned on.
Bang, bang! Boom, boom! Still was the warrior unperturbed. After
considerable expenditure of both shot and shell, the truth, much to the
disgust of the assailants, dawned upon them!

[Illustration: COMPLETE MACHINE GUN DETACHMENT OF MOUNTED INFANTRY.

PHOTO BY ELDRIDGE, COLCHESTER]

So pleasing was the success of this manoeuvre, that the Liverpools,
for further recreation, got up a miniature Tussaud's. They arrayed a row
of martial effigies, and waited with the glee of school-boys while the
artillery from the neighbouring hills pounded away at what they imagined
to be some dauntless Britons who dared to defy them.

Efforts to signal to Ladysmith by heliograph still continued to fail, at
least to reach those for whom the display was intended, though the Boer
heliograph graciously acknowledged the communication. It answered
jocosely, "Will be with you to-morrow." The British reply was
monosyllabic! The pigeon-post medium was resorted to, and by this means
those outsiders struggling for its relief were informed that with
Ladysmith all was well.

[Illustration: GENERAL SIR GEORGE STEWART WHITE, V.C., G.C.B., THE
DEFENDER OF LADYSMITH.

Photo by Window & Grove, London.]

The process of pigeon postal communication was exceedingly interesting.
Mr. Arthur Hirst, who at the onset of the war had started a loft of the
best Yorkshire racing pigeons at Durban, settled himself at the
Intelligence Department Headquarters, Ladysmith, and from thence sent
out his intelligent birds. Of these he had some 200, all of which were
trained by himself and his assistants. His early experiments were most
successful. He despatched thirteen pigeons to Durban, a distance of 200
miles, yet they arrived safely with messages within five hours. The
birds were returned from thence for more work. After that time Mr. Hirst
continued training a hu