The end of Waine was like a judgment upon him, as I shall now attempt to describe. Always left in camp, it was his task to clean the firelocks when the men returned after night expeditions. This he had to do whether any firing took place or not, as the heavy dews rendered the cartridges unreliable for further use if left in the guns. On one occasion a man gave him his firelock to clean, telling him it merely wanted wiping out, as it was unloaded. Waine did this, but could not clear the nipple, and after several attempts he took the weapon back to his owner, telling him of the fact. A cap was then put on, and Waine, holding out his hand, told him to fire, and see for himself. The man pulled the trigger, the gun exploded and blew Waine’s hand to pieces. It appeared that, unwittingly, it had been left loaded. Waine was removed, and shortly afterwards died of lock-jaw. CHAPTER VIII. FORMIDABLE ATTACK ON WATER-KLOOF--THE “BLACKSMITH’S SHOP”--SLIGHTLY WOUNDED OVER THE EYEBROW--DICTATE REPORT TO COLONEL CLOËTE IN PRESENCE OF GENERAL--I AM OMITTED IN GENERAL ORDERS--PROCEED TO GRAHAM’S TOWN TO REQUEST REVISION OF THE ORDER--INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL CATHCART--RECEIVE GENERAL ORDER TO MYSELF--OFFERS OF GRANTS OF LAND FOR THE MEN WHO WISHED TO SETTLE--REMOVE TO BLAKEWAY’S FARM. News now arrived in camp that the Commander-in-chief, with all the forces at his disposal, consisting of several thousand British soldiers, with native levies and batteries of artillery, was expected in the neighbourhood of the Water-kloof, and to clear out that Kaffir stronghold which had caused the shedding of so much blood, and to some extent had tarnished, if not the fame, at least the prestige, of British arms. On the 11th July I received orders to make the necessary preparations, and on the following night to proceed to the Water-kloof, where I should be joined by Colonel Eyre with the 73d. The 73d were called the Cape Greyhounds. By their training they had become the most effective fighting regiment at the Cape, and had never left a wounded or dead man behind in the hands of the foe. As might be expected, Colonel Eyre himself was a most daring, energetic officer; and Colonel H----d and he showed great promise of becoming remarkable commanders. According to the instructions I received, I started that evening to the Water-kloof; and knowing all the winding ins and outs of the place, found myself before daybreak in the centre of the kloof, having been opposed on my way by a few Hottentot deserters. These were readily known by the use they made of the bugle. They took refuge on the top of a solitary mound, which stood somewhat lower down in the valley, towards Mundell’s Peak, and which was called the “Blacksmith’s Shop,” from the fact of its being the place where these same deserters (some of whom had been armourers in the Cape corps) used to repair the enemy’s firelocks. I waited where I was until ten o’clock, and