Retribution--Sir Archibald Hunter's bold scheme--A night attack-- Silently through the darkness--At the foot of Gun Hill--A broken ascent--"Wie kom dar?" "The English are on us!"--Major Henderson thrice wounded--Destroying "Leviathan"--Hussars suffer under fire--Rejoicings in town--Sir George White's address to the troops--Boer compliments--A raid for provender--A second sortie-- The Rifles' bold enterprise--An unwelcome light--Cutting the wires--Surprise Hill reached--The sentry's challenge--Rifles' charge with the bayonet--Boer howitzer destroyed--The return to camp--Cutting the way home--Serious losses 103 CHAPTER VIII AFTER COLENSO The Town-Guard called out--Echoes of Colenso--Heliograms from Buller--The Boers and Dingaan's Day--Disappointing news--Special correspondents summoned--Victims of the bombardment--Shaving under shell fire--Tea with Lord Ava--Boer humour: "Where is Buller?"--Sir George White's narrow escape--A disastrous shot-- Fiftieth day of the siege--Grave and gay--"What does England think of us?"--Stoical artillerymen--The moral courage of caution--How Doctor Stark was killed--Serious thoughts--Gordons at play--Boers watch the match--A story by the way--"My name is Viljoen"--How Major King won his liberty--A tribute to Boer hospitality--"We rely on your Generals"--General White and Schalk-Burger--A coward chastised--"Sticking it out" 128 CHAPTER IX A CHRISTMAS UNDER SIEGE Husbanding supplies--Colonel Ward's fine work--Our Christmas market--A scanty show--Some startling prices--A word to cynics-- The compounding of plum-puddings--The strict rules of temperance--Boer greetings "per shell"--A lady's narrow escape-- Correspondents provide sport--"Ginger" and the mules--The sick and wounded--Some kindly gifts--Christmas tree for the children-- Sir George White and the little ones--"When the war is over"--Some empty rumours--A fickle climate--Eight officers killed and wounded--More messages from Buller--Booming the old year out 155 CHAPTER X THE GREAT ASSAULT Why the Boers attacked--Interesting versions--A general surprise-- Joubert's promise--Boer tactics reconsidered--Erroneous estimates-- Under cover of night--A bare-footed advance--The Manchesters surprised--The fight on Waggon Hill--In praise of the Imperial Light Horse--A glorious band--The big guns speak--Lord Ava falls-- Gordons and Rifles to the rescue--A perilous position--The death of a hero--A momentary panic--Man to man--A gallant enemy--Burghers who fell fighting--The storming of Caesar's Camp--Shadowy forms in the darkness--An officer captured--"Maak Vecht!"--Abdy's guns in play--"Well done, gunners!"--Taking water to the wounded-- Dick-Cunyngham struck down--Some anxious moments--The Devons charge home--A day well won 180 CHAPTER XI WATCHING FOR BULLER