k--two o'clock in the morning--they began to advance on
their perilous enterprise, climbing up steep and slippery slopes, and
stumbling over boulders, and tripping on loosened stones. The stars
blinked, the sky seemed slumbering in one vast dream of blue. Stealthily
they moved with the footfalls of tigers stalking their prey. Not a word
was spoken. Scarcely a breath drawn.

Above, on the flat top of the hills, were the objects of British
desire--the Boer guns. A 6-inch Creusot, throwing a 94-lb. shell, and a
4.7-inch howitzer, firing a 40-lb. shot. More anxious than sweetheart
for the sight of his lady-love were these gallant fellows for the touch
of these treasures. Up they went, each outracing the other, straining
every nerve and muscle to gain the summit of the hill, to be first to
handle the prize!

At last, when about half the distance had been cleared, they were
challenged by the picket. "Wie gaat daar?"--"Who goes there?" he sang
out in alarm. It was a thrilling moment. To the challenge there could be
but one reply. That reply they gave. Shots rang out in the darkness.
There was now no more creeping. Tongues of flame darted from every side.
The troops pushed forward in the grey mysterious gloom to the ping of
bullets that whizzed in shoals swiftly past their ears. Major Henderson
dropped. More bullets rained down. A Guide fell wounded by cycle
bearing-balls shot from a rifle--so it was subsequently said. One
gallant fellow after another threw up his arms dying or dead. But still
the troops pressed on, Colonel Edwards in advance shouting them on to
victory. "Fix bayonets," he called with a voice of thunder, knowing
there were but four bayonets among the lot. "Give 'em cold steel,"
shouted some one else with delirious rapture, and the Carabineers and
Light Horse, with scarce a bayonet to their name, cheered and charged!
But the Boers delayed not to find out if there were steel or no steel.
They fled in dismay, leaving behind them their cherished guns. So swift
indeed was their flight, that hats, boots, letters, everything--were
scattered to the winds.

Thereupon Captain Fowke and Lieutenant Turner, R.E., with great skill
destroyed a 6-inch gun and a 4.7-inch howitzer with gun-cotton. They
also captured a Maxim. This magnificent piece of work, counting from the
moment the order to charge was given, was performed in three-quarters of
an hour, with the loss to our troops of only seven men. The conduct of
the Imperi