, and how they
would like the walk to Pretoria when Ladysmith surrendered. There are
about thirty Kaffirs also in the prison, chiefly thieves, but some
suspects. They are kept in the women's quarters, for the kind of woman
who fills Kaffir gaols has lifted up her blankets and gone to Maritzburg
or Intombi Camp.

CHAPTER XX

SUN AND FEVER

_February 3, 1900._

The day was fairly quiet. Old "Bulwan Billy" did not fire at us at all,
and there was no movement in the distant Boer camps, though the
universal belief is that the enemy is concentrating round Ladysmith for
a fresh attack.

In the evening the rations were issued to the civilians under Major
Thompson's new regulations in the Market House. Each child, or whoever
else is sent, now brings his ticket; it is verified at a table, the cost
is added daily to each account, the child is sent on down the shed to
draw his allowance of tea and sugar, his loaf, and bit of horse. The
organisation is admirable, but one feels it comes a little late in the
day. The same is true of the new biscuit tins which are to be put up as
letter-boxes about the camp for a local post, and of the new plan of
making sandals for the men out of flaps of saddles and the buckets for
cavalry carbines. For a fortnight past, 120 of the Manchesters have gone
barefoot among the rocks.

_Sunday, February 4, 1900._

The sun shone. Women and children went up and down the street. I even
saw two white-petticoated girls climbing the rocks of Cove Redoubt to
get a peep at "Princess Victoria"--otherwise "Bloody Mary." It was a day
of peace, but every one believes it to be the last. To-night an attack
is confidently expected. The Boers are concentrating on the north-west.
A new gun was seen yesterday moving towards Thornhill's Kopje, and
sounds of building with stones were heard there last night. It is
thought the attack will be upon the line from Observation Hill to Range
Post. Every available man is warned. Even the military prisoners are
released and sent on duty again. The pickets are doubled and pushed far
out. A code of signals by rocket has been arranged to inform Buller of
what is going on. It is felt that this is the enemy's last chance of
doing so big a thing as capturing this garrison.

But all that is still uncertain, and in the quiet afternoon I harnessed
up my cart for a gentle drive with Sergeant-Gunner Boseley, of the 53rd
Battery. He is a red Irishman, born at Maidsto