; but I could just manage to see
beneath the canopy of smoke which rose slowly that half the lower line
of defenders had fallen back. Directly after, we were all hurried to
the front of the great niche and ordered to man the rocks there in front
of the horses.

While settling ourselves in every advantageous position we could find,
the firing went on as briskly as ever, the Boers blazing away at our two
lines of men, who replied as fast as they could load; and, as far as I
could tell by the sound, the fusillade did not slacken.

Then I began to understand what was about to happen, and could not help
laughing to myself when I saw the part of our line we had left firing
suddenly come hurrying in, to pass through an opening in our ranks; and
no sooner were they safe than the lower line fell back and came running
into the shelter, to join up with the others.

As soon as these detachments were out of the way we had orders to fire
four cartridges each, half of us firing as well up the pass as possible,
the other half to fire as far downwards as they could. After these four
rounds each we were to cease firing: this was, of course, to prevent the
Boers from noticing that our fire had slackened and then ceased; and it
answered exactly as the Colonel had intended, for the bull-headed and
obstinate enemy went on for the next half-hour firing away at the stones
where we had been, each side believing that a portion of the reports and
echoes were caused by our firing, and all the time our men stood
laughing and enjoying the blunder, and pretty sure that the enemy must
be bringing down some of their own comrades. Whether the enemy found
this out at last, or were dissatisfied at not being able to silence our
fire, I don't know; but suddenly there was another train of sparks
rushing up through the smoke, and the bursting of a rocket far on high,
sending down a dingy bluish light through the overhanging cloud. Then
the firing stopped as if by magic.

Instantly every man was on the _qui vive_, the front of the niche
bristling with rifles ready to deliver volley after volley as soon as
the rush we all expected began; but we waited in vain. When skirmishers
were sent out to feel their way cautiously in the darkness, through
which the smoke was slowly rising, we still waited and listened,
expecting to hear them fired upon; but again we waited in vain. Both
parties of the enemy had retired for the night; and, as soon as the
Colonel w