silence of nearly two days. We generally accept such
sudden outbursts as indicating that something has gone wrong with our
enemies elsewhere, but we can see no signs of hurried movement among
them, and though General Buller's guns have been active half the day
they sound no nearer. A long message was heliographed through just
before sunset, and rumours of ill news are whispered about with bated
breath by people who wish to establish a reputation for early knowledge,
but at the risk of being charged before a court-martial with the
dissemination of news calculated to cause despondency. We had a case of
that kind the other day when Foss, the champion swimmer of South Africa,
was rightly convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for deprecating the
skill of our generals in conversation with soldiers. Tommy may hold his
own opinions on that point, but he resents hearing them expressed for
him through a pro-Boer mouthpiece, and this man may consider himself
lucky to escape summary chastisement as a preliminary to the durance
vile which is intended to be a wholesome warning for others of like
tendency.

And indeed the garrison and civilians of Ladysmith, who now began
to feel the sharp pinch of hunger, had need to silence any whose
voices might be raised to rob them of their attenuated hopes. No
official statement had yet been made on the subject, but it was
already becoming evident that they had yet a time of painful
waiting before relief could come. To the hundred days which they
had trusted might complete the period of their trial a score were
to be added before their sufferings could be forgotten in the joy
of deliverance.

CHAPTER XII

AFTER ONE HUNDRED DAYS

Boer paean of victory--Rations cut down--Sausage without
mystery--The "helio" moves east--Sick and dying at Intombi--Famine
prices at market--Laughter quits the camps--A kindly thing by the
enemy--Good news at last--Heroes in tatters--The distant tide of
battle--Pulse-like throb of rifles--Two sons for the
Empire--British infantry on Monte Cristo--Boer ambulances moving
north--"'Ave you 'eard the noos?"--Rations increased--Bulwaan
strikes his tents--"With a rifle and a red cross"--Buller "going
strong"--Cronje's surrender--A sorry celebration--"A beaten army in
full retreat"--"Puffing Billy" dismantled--General Buller's
message--Relief at hand.

Sir