Unfortunately, the mounted infantry in their movement failed to make out a small party of Boers, ensconced behind good cover, and came under an unexpected and terrible fire, which in a few moments killed Colonel Keith-Falconer, mortally wounded Lieutenant Wood, and hit two other officers and two privates. The attempt to outflank the Boers had to be immediately abandoned--and it was well that it was abandoned. Colonel Gough supposed he had before him only 700 men and one gun under Commandant Vandermerwe. Much uncertainty prevailed all through the war as to the Boer numbers, but it is probable that the force opposed to him was at least twice and possibly three times as strong as he supposed. [Illustration: BOER POLICE AT THE FRONT. Armed with Mausers and cook-pot.] [Sidenote: Heavy loss of officers.] [Sidenote: NOV. 10-20, 1899.] _Lord Methuen Ready to Move._] The heavy loss in officers on this occasion struck the last blow at the system of distinguishing officers from men by their equipment and uniform. Though officers and men alike wore khaki, the officers' buttons were polished till they shone like jewels, whereas the men were forbidden to polish any part of their equipment; the officers carried swords with gleaming silver hilts, whilst the men had their rifles carefully dulled. It followed that the officer was discernible at a great distance, and the Boers, with very correct military instinct, made use of this fact to pick them off. A certain number of the best shots with good field-glasses were detailed for this purpose. In acting thus the Boers were in no way transgressing the customs of war. In the great Continental armies instructions are given to the best shots to aim at the officers, as by the loss of its leaders the best force in the world is speedily paralysed. Henceforward in all the British columns the officer was to carry a rifle and to dress exactly like the men. This measure had immediate effect, considerably reducing the high proportion of loss in the commissioned ranks, though from the nature of things the officer, being in front of his men, must always be more exposed than they. [Illustration: CHILDREN OF THE EMPIRE. The native question has always been a bone of contention between the British and the Boers; the latter regard the Kaffirs as mere chattels, whilst our own rule secures for the natives of Africa, as of all other parts of our world-empire, the elementary rights of liberty and justice.] [Illustration: [_Photo by Van Hospen._ THREE GENERATIONS AT THE WAR. Boys of fifteen and sixteen, as well as many grey-bearded men, are found in the ranks of the Boers. Their method of fighting makes drill to a large extent superfluous; anybody who can shoot can fight under their tactics.] [Sidenote: Lord Methuen reinforced.] [Sidenote: [NOV. 20, 1899.]