es or rocks compelled them to crowd
together. They came back fast, but well in hand, wheeling to right or
left at word of command, as on parade. The B Squadron of the 18th had a
terrible gallop for it, right across the front of fire along a ridge
such as Boers rejoice in. Their loss was two killed and seventeen
wounded. The others only lost three or four slightly wounded. It proves
how lightly a highly-disciplined cavalry can come off where one would
have said hardly any could survive.

As we retired the Boers kept following us up, though with great caution.
Riding along the valleys, dismounting, and creeping from kopje to kopje
among the stones, a large body of them came up to Brooks Farm, and began
firing at our sangars and outposts at ranges of 800 to 1,000 yards, the
bullets coming very thick over our heads, even after we had reached the
protection of the Gloucesters' walls and earthworks. There our infantry
opened fire, while two guns of the 13th Battery near the railway
cutting, and two of the 69th on Observation Hill, threw shrapnel over
the kopjes, and checked any further advance.

But the Boers still held their positions, pouring a tremendous fire into
any of the cavalry who had still to pass within their range. As to
their number, their magazine rifles, firing five shots in rapid
succession, makes any estimate difficult. I have heard it put as low as
600. Perhaps 1,000 is about right. I myself saw some 300 from first to
last. By seven the whole of our force was again within the lines.
Splendid as the behaviour of all the cavalry was, one man seemed to me
conspicuous. Towards the end of the retirement he quietly cantered out
across the most exposed bit of open ground, and went round among the
kopjes as though looking for something. For a time he disappeared down a
gully. Then he came cantering back again, and reached the high road
along a watercourse, which gave a little cover. At least 300 bullets
must have been fired at him, but he changed neither his pace nor
direction. Whether he was looking for wounded or only went out for
diversion I have not heard, but one could not imagine more complete
disregard of death.

The rest of the day passed quietly. The Boers gathered in crowds on Gun
Hill and stood around the carcass of "Long Tom" as though in
lamentation. His absence gave us an unfamiliar sense of security. Some
called it dull. "Lay it on where you like, there's no pleasing you,"
said the gaoler.