is father's body lay beside him, shattered also, but not so
horribly. They were identified by letters from home in their pockets.

CHAPTER XVII

A PAUSE AND A RENEWAL

_January 8, 1900._

All was ready to receive another attack, but the Boers made no sign
beyond the usual bombardment. One of the wounded--a Harrismith man--says
there is a strong party in favour of peace, men who want to get back to
their farms and their families. We have heard that tale before, but
still, here the Boers are fighting for freedom and existence if ever men
did.

To-day's bombardment nearly destroyed the tents and dhoolies of our
field hospital, but did little else save beheading and mangling some
corpses. The troops were changed about a good deal, half the K.R.R.
being sent to the old Devon post on Helpmakaar road; half the Liverpools
to King's Post, and the Rifle Brigade to Waggon Hill.

At night there was a thanksgiving service in the Anglican Church. I
ought to have mentioned earlier that on the night before the attack the
Dutch held a solemn supplication, calling on God to bless their efforts.

_January 9, 1900._

One long blank of drenching rain unrelieved by shells, till at sunset a
stormy light broke in the west, and a few shots were fired.

_January 10, 1900._

In the night the authorities expected an attack on Observation Hill.
They hurried out two guns of the 69th Battery to a position outside
King's Post. The guns were dragged through the heavy slush, but when
they arrived it was found no guns could live in such a place, fully
exposed to all fire, and unsupported by infantry. So back came the weary
men and horses through the slush again, getting to their camp between 2
and 3 a.m.

At intervals in the night the two mountain guns on Observation Hill kept
firing star-shell to reveal any possible attack. But none came, and the
rest of the day was very quiet. My time was occupied in getting off a
brief heliogram, and sending out another Kaffir with news of Saturday's
defence. Two have been driven back. The Boers now stretch wires with
bells across the paths, and it goes hard with any runner caught.

_January 11, 1900._

The enemy was ominously quiet. Bulwan did not fire all day. From King's
Post, whilst visiting the new fortifications and the guns in their new
positions all about it, I watched the Boers dragging two field guns
hastily southward along the western track, perhaps to Sprin