at Cronje was a prisoner in Lord Roberts's
camp, having surrendered with all his army unconditionally this morning.
Hurrahs are ringing through every camp at this news. Majuba Day has
brought glad tidings to us after all!

_February 28._--The fortune of war is on our side now. Every sign points
to that conclusion. Ladysmith was alarmed soon after midnight by what
seemed to civilians the beginning of another attack. Rifles rang out
sharply round the whole of our positions. The furious outburst began on
Gun Hill. Surprise Hill took it up. It ran along the dongas in which
Boer pickets lie hidden, and was carried on to the south beyond Bester's
Valley. Our troops did not fire a shot, but still the fusillade
continued for half an hour. The Boers were evidently in a state of
nervous excitement, brought on by nothing more formidable than twelve
men of the Gloucesters who, under Lieutenant Thesbit, had gone out to
destroy a laager at the foot of Limit Hill. This incident showed clearly
enough that no news had come from Colenso to give our enemies
confidence. Few of us, however, were prepared for the sight that met our
eyes as we looked from Observation Hill across the broad plain towards
Blaauwbank when the mists of morning cleared. There we saw Boer convoys
trekking northward from the Tugela past Spion Kop in columns miles long.
Others emerged from the defile by Underbrook like huge serpents twining
about the hillsides. Waggons were crowded together by hundreds. If one
could not go fast enough it had to fall out of the road, making way for
others. Above them hung dense dust clouds. Elsewhere in the open, dust
whirled in thinner, higher wreaths above groups of horsemen hurrying off
in confusion, and paying no heed to the straits of their transport. A
beaten army in full retreat if I have ever seen one! Still people
doubted and grew uneasy, because of General Buller's silence. Bulwaan
fired a single shot by way of parting salute, and then a tripod was
rigged up for lifting "Puffing Billy" from his carriage. It was a bold
thing to do in broad daylight, and our naval 12-pounders made short work
of it by battering the tripod over. After that a steady fire was kept up
on the battery to prevent, if possible, the Boers from moving their
guns.

Afternoon sunshine enabled General Buller to heliograph the reassuring
message for which Ladysmith had been waiting so anxiously. He said: "I
beat the enemy thoroughly yesterday, and am sending