On the 28th a Boer commando captured near Kroonstad an outpost of ninety volunteers, and proceeded to loot a mail train, but later General Paget at Magato Pass drove the enemy from two positions. Night expeditions to surprise the Dutchmen were engaged in by Lord Kitchener and General Smith-Dorrien, the former near Lydenburg attacking two Boer laagers, one under Schalk Burger, and driving the Dutchmen north, the latter moving towards Witkop and surrounding the enemy, but failing to do the damage intended owing to inclement weather. A more awful night than that of the 1st of November the unhappy troops could scarcely recollect, but as the two small columns, one under General Smith-Dorrien and the other under Colonel Spens (Shropshire Light Infantry), were operating in support of each other and some miles apart, neither could turn back. Only after surrounding and surprising the Boers at daybreak were they able to retire, and no sooner was the retirement commenced than the Boers boldly dashed after them, one of their number being slain within fifty yards of the Gordons. Our losses were Captain Chalmers, Canadian Mounted Rifles, killed, and Major Saunders, of the same corps, wounded. Captain Gardyne of the Gordons sustained slight injuries. The circumstances attending the death of Captain Chalmers were most pathetic. Major Saunders, in the thick of a blizzard of fire, was riding back with a sergeant who had lost his horse, and to whose rescue he had bravely galloped. At this moment the Major's horse, which was cumbered with the two riders, was killed, and the Major himself wounded. To his assistance rushed Chalmers, who, though begged to save himself, refused, and promptly fell a sacrifice to his own gallantry. Such deeds of heroism were occurring daily. Though at home public interest in the war began to wane, and certain notoriety hunters endeavoured to hint that the British troops were not as smart as they might be, the gallant men at the front fought and toiled and suffered nobly. Besides actual warfare, pillage and the wrecking and burning of trains formed part of the normal programme, and daily deeds of devotion and courage were enacted. But these deeds, as a rule, found none to record them, and only now and then some special instance of heroism was wafted home on the wires. In one case the _Pall Mall Gazette_ gave publicity to a story that makes one glory in the name of Briton. About this time a train to the south of Standerton, on the Natal line, was "stuck up" and fired upon. The driver and stoker were both wounded, the former being hit eight times and having both his arms smashed. Nothing daunted, however, he butted the lever of his engine with his head, and drove it full speed into Standerton, working the lever the whole way with his head alone!