ome," or if a
listener's heart is deeply moved as he hears the words, "Mother come
back from the Echoless Shore," sung amid such surroundings in the still
nights of days that are hoarse with the booming of guns. Few of us,
however, despise comic songs here when time and scene fit. We have them
at frequent smoking-concerts that help to enliven a routine of duty that
would be dull without these entertainments. There are no regimental
bands to cheer us, but the Natal Volunteers have improvised one in which
tin whistles and tambourines make a fair substitute for fifes and drums.
The pipes of the Gordon Highlanders we have always with us, too.

CHAPTER IX

A CHRISTMAS UNDER SIEGE

Husbanding supplies--Colonel Ward's fine work--Our Christmas
market--A scanty show--Some startling prices--A word to cynics--The
compounding of plum-puddings--The strict rules of temperance--Boer
greetings "per shell"--A lady's narrow escape--Correspondents
provide sport--"Ginger" and the mules--The sick and wounded--Some
kindly gifts--Christmas tree for the children--Sir George White and
the little ones--"When the war is over"--Some empty rumours--A
fickle climate--Eight officers killed and wounded--More messages
from Buller--Booming the old year out.

It needed perhaps all the music that could be mustered in the town
to remind the beleaguered garrison and inhabitants that the festive
season was upon them. It was inevitable that at such a time the
thoughts of all should turn a little regretfully to other scenes.
But it takes a great deal to depress the British soldier to the
point at which he is willing to forego his Christmas; and on all
hands, in spite of adverse fortune, preparations were made to keep
the day in as fitting a manner as the restricted means
allowed--with what success is described by Mr. Pearse in the
following letter:--

Thanks to the perfect organisation which Colonel Ward, C.B., brings into
all branches of the department over which he is chief here, and the
attention paid to innumerable details by his second in command, Colonel
Stoneman, there has never been any danger of necessary supplies being
exhausted, even if this place were invested for a much longer time than
seems likely now, but these two officers seem to have more than absolute
necessaries in reserve. When Colonel Ward was appointed Military
Governor of Ladys