ill poured in a hot fire on the retiring infantry. The
material effect of this was not great, because the Boers' shooting
throughout the day was remarkably indifferent. But under its
influence a large proportion of the British troops took cover in the
donga which drains the valley between the Kissieberg and the height to
the westward. As an eye-witness describes it:--

[Sidenote: Word-sketch of retreat.]

"This donga was too deep to be used as a line of defence, being
six feet deep at least, with both banks washed away underneath,
and with nothing for the men to stand upon to enable them to
bring their rifles to bear. It was here that the trouble in the
retirement commenced. The men retiring from the hill rushed to
this donga for cover from the heavy rifle-fire, and on getting
into it, and thinking they were safe from immediate danger, laid
down and many went to sleep, and the greatest difficulty was
experienced to get them on the move again and to leave the donga.
Many men were by this time thoroughly done up and did not appear
to care what happened to them. Many men still remained on the
hill, some because they had not heard the order to retire, and
some because, utterly weary, they had sunk down in sleep in the
dead angle at the foot of the height."

[Sidenote: Stages of retreat.]

On the extreme left the retreat to the western ridge was effected in
good order, the three companies of the Irish Rifles moving back first,
then the batteries in succession, the mounted infantry covering the
first stage, and remaining in close touch with the enemy, until
Colonel Jeffreys was able again to bring his guns into action on the
spur marked +b+ on the map. During this withdrawal, Major E. Perceval
was severely wounded, but continued to command the 77th battery until
the close of the day's operations. The artillery held this second
position for over an hour, the infantry forming up in rear. The enemy
now re-opened with a very long range gun, which made excellent
practice, but fortunately the large majority of its shells only burst
on impact, or not at all.

[Sidenote: New foes appear, but are driven off.]

[Sidenote: An ill-starred order.]

At about 6 a.m. a further development began, one which might have
proved fatal to the British force had the Boers then possessed the
discipline and vigour in counter-attacks they acquired in the later
stages of the w