and no sooner had Watson disposed the remnants of "B."
company on the crest, than he himself fell dead just as dawn appeared.
Only about 100 officers and men were now scattered over the hill, many
of them wounded, but opposing as hot a fire as they could deliver to
the invisible enemy who was firing point blank into them. The pouches
of the dead were rifled for cartridges with which to continue the
struggle; but no hope remained; even the shrapnel of Eustace's
artillery, which now opened from Kloof camp, became an added danger:
while the Boers, aided by the increasing light, shot with
ever-increasing accuracy. About 4.30 a.m. the survivors, ninety-nine
in number, of whom twenty-nine were wounded, surrendered.[269]

[Footnote 269: Casualties, January 6th:--

Killed: Five Officers; thirty-two N.C.O.s and men.
Wounded and taken prisoners: Three Officers; twenty-six
N.C.O.s and men.
Unwounded and taken prisoners: Two Officers; sixty-eight
N.C.O.s and men.
Wounded and returned to camp: One Officer; twenty-two
N.C.O.s and men.
The Boers stated their losses as one officer and eight men
killed, seventeen men wounded.]

[Sidenote: Jan. 6th.]

In the evening the 1st Essex relieved the 1st Suffolk at Kloof camp,
the latter battalion being sent first to Rensburg, and subsequently to
the lines of communication to be re-officered.

[Sidenote: Jan. 7th, 1900. French reconnoitres Boer left.]

[Sidenote: Jan. 9th. Slingersfontein Farm on Boer left occupied.]

It was now evident to General French that the Boer right was so strong
and so watchful as to be proof against either stratagem or open
attack. He therefore turned at once to the other flank for
opportunities, seeking by a reconnaissance on the 7th January a
suitable point to the eastward from whence to threaten the enemy's
rear along the line of the Norval's Pont railway. The operation, which
was carried out under long-range fire both of artillery and
rifles,[270] disclosed the fact that owing to lack of water none of
the kopjes that were near enough to the line were tenable as
permanent posts. At Slingersfontein farm, however, eleven miles
south-east of Colesberg, and seven miles from the nearest point of the
Norval's Pont line, an excellent position was found. On January 9th it
was occupied by two squadrons Household cavalry, three squadrons the
6th Drago