THE STORMING OF A FARMHOUSE BY THE YORKSHIRES AND LANCASHIRES.] [Sidenote: Attempts to cross the river.] [Sidenote: NOV. 28, 1899.] _The River Crossed by Highlanders and Yorkshiremen._] Lord Methuen had ridden over in the afternoon from the right to the left. On the right a desperate attempt to cross the Riet and get at the enemy had just failed. Colonel Codrington had led a party of Coldstreams, twenty-four men strong, across the river, but they missed the ford and had to swim for it. When they reached the other side they found themselves unsupported and exposed to a concentrated fire, so that there was nothing for it but retreat. Two of the party were all but drowned, when the others, unfastening their putties, made long lines of them and threw them to the exhausted men. It is pleasant to relate that all of this brave little band regained the British lines. On the left several attempts had been made by the Ninth Brigade, splendidly led by General Pole-Carew, to cross the river, the approach to which had been secured by the Yorkshires and Lancashires. These two battalions stormed a farmhouse and a kraal just to the south of the dam, though the Boers were present in force. Several of the enemy were bayoneted in the mêlée about the house. Further to the left a line of low kopjes was captured at the point of the bayonet, and the British left was firmly based on the river. [Illustration: _H. M. Paget._] [_After a photo by R. Thiele._ CROSSING THE MODDER BY THE DAM. The photograph represents some of Lord Methuen's men crossing the river after the battle. On the left is the dam by which the Yorkshires crossed under a heavy fire and obtained a temporary footing on the north bank of the river.]