nd, although the Boers never for a moment
ceased their fire, the survivors of that charge managed to creep back
to the crest. Here Colonel Brooke, of the Connaught Rangers, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Sitwell collected them, and took steps to guard
against a counter-attack. A low stone wall was built below the crest,
and behind this the night was spent.

It was very dark, and the ground, covered with boulders, most
difficult to move over. Wounded men lay all over the hill, but there
were no doctors, no stretcher-bearers, and no water. It was impossible
to help or to move them. Their groans, combined with the intermittent
rifle-fire, made sleep difficult.

We had three officers wounded (Lieutenants Lane, Hill, and Dennis),
and some twenty casualties. Lieutenant Hill was again hit as he lay,
and subsequently lost his foot in consequence.

The infantry crouching behind the stone wall were unable to
communicate with the rest of the army. At dawn, however, Major
McGrigor, the Brigade-Major, came up to the line and told Colonel
Brooke that General Hart wished him to hold on to his position, to
which reinforcements would be sent. Colonel Brooke explained that food
and water would have to be sent also, and, above all, that his left
must be protected. Having promised to do what he could, Major McGrigor
returned to his General. With daylight the battle recommenced. The
Boers, from their trenches on Hart's and Railway Hills, kept up a
vigorous rifle-fire, and were answered as far as possible by the men
of the 5th Brigade behind the wall. Our artillery shelled Hart's Hill,
and many of their shrapnel which burst short hit the unlucky wounded
who were still lying on the plateau.

But the Boers were not content to remain on the defensive. Gradually
their skirmishers worked round the left of the hill, moving by the
dongas which ran down to the railway line, and were able to fire up
into the rear of the defenders of the wall. Part of the latter were
extended at right angles to the wall, and endeavoured to drive off the
enemy. But the Boers had excellent cover, whereas the infantry crowded
together on the hill presented an easy target. Casualties became
numerous. The morning wore on, and there were no signs of the promised
reinforcements or of the much-needed water and food. It seemed useless
to stay on the hill, and about 8 a.m. Colonel Brooke gave the order
to retire. As the men rose to their feet and ran down the hill, the
rattle of t