Under a blaze of fire, four guns of "Q" Battery and one of "U" trotted clear, and came into action about a thousand yards away at the tin buildings which are destined to be the Corne Drift Railway Station. A few seconds later Roberts' Horse rallied upon them. But here the nucleus of the front was formed which saved the whole force from disaster. The carnage was ghastly for a few minutes, but as the gunners stood devotedly to their pieces and Roberts' dismounted troopers commenced to keep down the fire, Broadwood was able to form dispositions by which to extricate the force. This was done--the British cavalry were sent to clear the flank of the donga and, covering each other, the mounted infantry corps were able to withdraw after the remnants of the batteries had fallen back. The action of the gunners was magnificent. In the face of a bitter short-range fire they stood to their pieces until, of the five gun groups, there were only ten men and one officer left unscathed to serve the guns. Then with dilapidated teams and manual haulage they dragged the battery out of action, only to come into action again when Broadwood strained every nerve to regain the baggage and the guns. And even while this action was taking place the relieving division was only four miles distant. It was a sad yet brilliant affair. Sad that the column ever fell into the ambush--brilliant in the manner in which the force was extricated. * * * * * BARRACK-ROOM BALLADS. _A Recipe._ BY MARK THYME. The man what writes a poem In praise of our Tommy A.'s Ain't got no call to study Their manners, nor talk, nor ways, 'E's only to fake up something What's Barracky--more or less-- And civilians don't know as it's rubbish and so The Ballad's a big success. Don't 'ave no truck with the drill-book-- You might get a bit at fault, It's best to confine your attentions To simple commands, like "'Alt"; For a 'aporth of 'Industanie And a pennorth of Sergeants' mess (Though the meanin's all wrong) is enough for a song To make it a big success. If you wants to say anything coarse-like, Well, say it out plain, don't 'int, And fill each line with expletives As don't look pretty in print-- If you sneers at the "Widow of Windsor," And laughs at 'er soldiers' dress, And connects the word "'Ell" with an orficer, well, Your ballad's a big success. _Take the slang of the camp (What's easy to vamp) And some delicate soldier wheeze, Call the Guard-room the "Clink," And describe any drink As a "Fall in" or "Stand at ease"; Then you mix the 'ole lot And you serve it up 'ot; From ingredients sich as these Form that singular salad A Barrack-room Ballad In Rudyardkiplingese._ * * * * * THEY WANT MORE OF TOMMY. BY W. T. R.