The British artillery fire soon appeared to get the Boer fire under. From the first the enemy had wasted ammunition at absurd ranges upon our guns with but little effect, seeming more intent on fancy shooting than upon doing any real damage. To all who watched the bombardment of the kopjes it appeared impossible that any living thing could be left upon them. A perfect hailstorm of shrapnel descended upon the stony slopes, yet, as was afterwards discovered, with but inconsiderable effect. The Boers had for the most part fallen back from the slopes which faced our guns to the other side of the ridge, where they lay behind the boulders in almost complete security. [Illustration: [_Photo by Knight, Aldershot._ GENERAL FRENCH. A brief sketch of General French's career is given on p. 30 of this work. He was in command of the forces which routed the Boers at Elandslaagte; left Ladysmith by the last train which succeeded in getting out of that town before it was invested; took up the command of the forces operating in the Colesberg district, November 10, 1899; led the cavalry division which effected the relief of Kimberley, under Lord Roberts's orders, February 15, 1900, and helped to enclose Cronje and compel his surrender, February 27. He has since taken an active part in the operations around Bloemfontein and Wepener. He has the advantage of leading that arm--cavalry--which is able to meet the enemy on something like equal terms; but his operations have been crowned with an amount of success which marks him out as a specially able commander.] [Sidenote: [NOV. 25, 1899.]