efences of a
gallant people fighting for their liberty.

One cannot help noticing the notable change of feeling towards the enemy
which the war has brought. The Boers, instead of being spoken of as
"ignorant brutes" and "cowards" have become "splendid fellows,"
admirable alike for strategy and courage. The hangers-on of Johannesburg
capitalism have to keep their abusive contempt to themselves now, but
happily only one or two of them have cared to remain in the beleaguered
town.

At a mess where I was to-night, all the officers but one agreed there
was not much glory in this war for the British soldier. It would only be
remembered as the fine struggle of an untrained people for their liberty
against an overwhelming power. The defence of the Tyrol against Ney was
quoted as a parallel. The Colonel, it is true, pathetically anxious to
justify everything to his mind and conscience, and trying to hate the
enemy he was fighting, stuck to his patriotic protests; but he was
alone, and the conversation was significant of a very general change.
Not that this prevents any one from longing for Buller's victory and our
relief, though the field were covered with the dead defenders of their
freedom.

_February 7, 1900._

We have now but one thought--is it possible for Buller to force his way
across that line of hills overlooking the Tugela? The nearest summits
are not more than ten miles away. We could ride out there in little more
than an hour and join hands with our countrymen and the big world
outside. Yet the barrier remains unbroken. Firing continued nearly all
day, except in the extreme heat of afternoon. We could watch the columns
of smoke thrown up by the Boers' great gun, still fixed above that niche
upon the horizon. The Dutch camps were unmoved, and at the extremity of
the Long Valley a large new camp with tents and a few waggons appeared
and increased during the day. Some thought it was a hospital camp, but
it was more likely due to a general concentration in the centre. Here
and there we could see great shells bursting, and even shrapnel. The
sound of rifles and "pom-poms" was often reported. Yet I could not see
any real proof of advance. Perhaps fever and sun blind me to hope, for
the staff are very confident still. They even lay odds on a celebration
of victory next Sunday by the united forces, and I hear that Sir George
is practising the Hundredth Psalm.

_February 8 to February 24, 1900._

I had h