ng a towel from
a soldier near him, tied it to his sword and held it aloft. For a
minute or two the enemy did not desist, and in this interval Conner,
running by order of his commanding officer, across to Colonel
Carleton, acquainted him with the fact that the flag had been upraised
in Duncan's sangar. At the same time a bugle, whether British or Boer
will never be known, sounded the "cease fire" somewhere on the British
left. There was a hasty consultation between Carleton and Adye as to
the possibility of repudiating the surrender altogether, or of
applying it solely to the small party which had yielded. But the
former officer, raising his eyes towards the spot, saw that the enemy
had practically decided the question for him. Having passed by
Duncan's kraal they were close in front of his main line, moving
quickly forward with shouts and waving of hats, with rifles held
confidently at the "trail." Many were already on the flank of the
right portion of the British line, which, surrender or not as it
would, was thus placed in an utterly untenable position. This right,
consisting of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, absorbed in action to the
front, knew nothing of the events on the left.

[Sidenote: Carleton submits for all.]

There was yet time to disown the flag. The Boers had so far possessed
themselves only of Duncan's sangar; but Carleton shrank from doing
what he knew would be construed into the blackest treachery by his
opponents, which he knew, moreover, could but prolong the resistance
of his trapped and exhausted battalions some half an hour or less.
Calling a bugler to him he bade him sound the "cease fire," set a
match to his maps and papers, and, with Adye, walked out towards the
enemy. Some of the Irish Fusiliers still fought on whilst Carleton,
meeting Commandant Steenkamp, handed over to him his sword and
revolver; it was some time before the bursts of firing ceased
altogether on the right. At about 1.30 p.m. 37 officers and 917 men
became prisoners of war.[135]

[Footnote 135: For detailed casualties, etc., see Appendix
6.]

CHAPTER XI.

THE ARRIVAL OF SIR REDVERS BULLER.

[Sidenote: Hopes of Sir George White's strength felt at home.]

Reports of the concentration of large commandos of Transvaal and Free
State burghers on the Natal border had been telegraphed home by the
High Commissioner and the Governor of Natal on the 28th of September,
and reached the Colonial Office duri