ifles Mounted Infantry has
exchanged a few shots with the enemy. This has hitherto been the only
fighting.

"A large force of Free State Boers, estimated at from 11,000 to 13,000,
is watching the passes of the Drakensberg from Olivier's Hoek to
Collins's Pass. They have pushed a few patrols down the berg, but
hitherto the main force has not debouched from the actual passes, which
are being intrenched."

As will be seen, the advance of the foe seemed to be converging on Sir
George White's position from all directions, and threatening Glencoe
from the north, east, and possibly west. Still the troops remained
cheerful and looked forward to a brush with the enemy. On the 18th
hostilities were begun by the Free State commando moving about ten miles
down the Tintwa Pass. They opened fire with their artillery on some
small cavalry patrols, but their shooting was distinctly inferior, and
no one was injured. They retreated on the advance of the 5th Lancers.
Several more commandoes were known to have advanced to join a force
stationed at Doornberg, some twelve miles from Dundee, and the enemy's
scouts having also been seen some seven miles off Glencoe, an engagement
was expected at any moment. An interesting account of this interval of
suspense was given by an officer writing on the 16th October from
Dundee, interesting and pathetic, too, when, in reading it, we remember
that the gallant fellow to whom the writer alluded is alive no longer.
He said:--

"Hitherto there has been no fighting at all, but our patrols are in
touch with the enemy. I was out on my first patrol the day before
yesterday since the declaration of war. My orders were to start at 6
A.M., push on about twelve miles along the Newcastle road, and stay out
till about 6 P.M. I went out to a small hill about four miles from the
camp and reconnoitered, and then went on to a place called Hadding
Spruit, where I found a few people at the station and the stationmaster.
This is at present the terminus of the line, all the rolling stock north
of this having been sent south, and all the wires cut and instruments
removed by the railway people. There is a large coal-mine here, and the
people are in a deadly funk about being blown up. I pushed on to a large
kopje, a few miles this side and west of Dannhauser, and climbed to the
top, where I spent an hour or so, as from there one can see as far as
Ingagane Nek, four miles this side of Newcastle, the place I sketched.
Just