lay where they were, with
frequent casualties, but using their weapons so vigorously that soon the
Boers on their front, an advanced party of Lombard's commando, gave back
in spite of their leader's efforts to hold them, and at 5.20 p.m. the
Manchester poured from the stones after them. They were closely followed
by the Gordon, who, though under cover below them, had suffered somewhat
from the shots grazing the edge of the plateau. At their appearance
heavy musketry burst from the kopjes 1,200 yards ahead. The soldiers
were in a moment at the wire fence. This obstacle, only partially
destroyed, had been taken as a known range by the Boer marksmen, and so
accurate therefore was their shooting that soon there was scarce a
strand unrent by the bullets. In the crowding which ensued many men fell
amongst the now dangling wires, some pushed through, and some could find
no gap. Though the front of the brigade thus became broken and confused,
the advance continued uninterruptedly. Now Lieut.-Colonel W. H.
Dick-Cunyngham sent the Gordon Highlanders forward into the gaps opening
in the lines of the Manchester, some to the left, some to the right,
some wherever they could find room. The Imperial Light Horse, who had
been contending every foot of their progress with the cloud of
skirmishers retiring slowly before them, here joined on to the right of
the Gordon. Once at the edge of the ridge, from which, as the troops
rushed forward, a detached party of Boers fell back, still shooting
bitterly, the brigade found itself facing due north, and the Boer left
flank lay exposed.

[Sidenote: Gore, dashing in, halts on Boer right rear.]

Meanwhile Gore, reinforced by a squadron 5th Lancers, had moved out
yet further to the left, cutting in between the Boer main body and
Schiel's Germans, so that the latter only saved themselves by a
circuitous gallop behind Woodcote farm, not drawing rein until they
arrived in rear of the left of the main position. Gore then gained a
secure foothold near the colliery 1,700 yards from the enemy's right
rear. Here he concealed his squadrons, and awaiting the development of
the infantry attack, watched the rear face of the enemy's kopjes for
signs of a break away.

[Sidenote: The position is captured.]

Strengthened by the arrival of Schiel, the Boer left poured their
bullets chiefly upon that portion of the line occupied by the right
companies of the Gordon Highlanders and the Imperial Light Horse.
Belo