tter than precept and practice better than
theory, so prevention is better than cure, and there is little doubt
that the fortification of that hill, in full view of many a Boer
field-glass in the town, whence our movements were of course fully
reported as frequently as possible to the enemy in the field, had a
deterrent effect on any designs our very active foes might otherwise
have contemplated.

On the morning of the 26th the left half-battalion, under Major Bird,
was suddenly ordered off to Nigel Road Station, about three miles out
on the railway to Johannesburg. The Boers having blown up a bridge
between this station and Heidelberg, all stores, &c., arriving from
Johannesburg had to be dumped down on the veld here, and it was
necessary to have a force on the spot to load them into waggons, as
well as to guard them and the trains. These soon began to arrive in
large numbers, and as each came up the sides of the railway waggons
were opened, and their heterogeneous contents chucked out anyhow into
a huge mass. In the mean time R.E. construction trains also arrived,
and the quiet little siding was soon a scene of wild bustle and
excitement. The R.E. went to work on the broken bridge, and made a
most excellent job of it in a surprisingly short time, though a casual
inspection of the temporary structure they built for trains to
pass over gave the lay mind the impression that an extra strong puff
of wind would blow the whole thing over. However, it answered its
purpose very thoroughly, and reflected much credit on its
constructors.

[Illustration: Colonel H. Tempest Hicks, C.B. Commanding 2nd Royal
Dublin Fusiliers March 1900 to March 1904.]

In the meantime Major Bird soon produced law and order out of chaos.
The coolies were made to put mealie-bags in one place and
biscuit-boxes in another, while the soldiers built both up into a very
serviceable sort of fort for the time being, an example of soldierly
adaptability which was not lost on any one who saw it or took part in
its erection.

We spent two or three very cheery days at Nigel Siding, the
stationmaster's house (two rooms) forming an ideal officers' mess, but
on the 28th 'E' and 'F' companies, under Captains Shewan and G. S.
Higginson, were recalled to headquarters, 'H' company, under Captain
Romer, was sent nine miles nearer Johannesburg to guard Reit Vlei
Bridge, while 'G' company remained at Nigel Road to watch over such
stores as had not yet been removed.