Colonel Hughes-Hallett's intention was only to fall back a short distance and not thus to leave the guns exposed; but the disheartened men were difficult to control. As the Highlanders fell back, the Boer fire became furiously rapid, and only the tempests of shrapnel from the British field guns prevented the casualties from mounting to enormous figures. Some of our guns actually got off not less than two rounds apiece in the minute. Yet, in spite of this all-important aid, the Highlanders suffered severely and had many casualties. The Gordons were left in an exposed position when the Highlanders fell back, and many of them were carried away in the retirement and thus were involved in the confusion. A few, however, stubbornly held their ground and rendered inestimable service. Their commanding officer, Colonel Downman, was mortally wounded, and was gallantly carried by Captain Towse towards the rear. [Sidenote: [DEC. 11, 1899.] [Sidenote: Incidents of the battle.] The retreat of the Highlanders left the artillery in a position of the extremest peril. A single bold dash on the part of the Boers, and the guns, it seemed to many, must have been lost. They were now far in advance of the infantry line and quite without support. Yet the Boers would not venture out of their trenches and trust themselves upon the open ground, and so the opportunity was lost. Only the small Scandinavian contingent, seventy men strong, pushed boldly forward and seized a kopje on the right. But here it was steadily received by the Guards; a murderous rifle fire was poured into it, and of its seventy men, but fourteen escaped unhurt and were taken prisoners. The others were killed or wounded by the rifle fire and shrapnel. At this moment a corporal of the Seaforths, who had been taken prisoner, disarmed, and placed in one of the advanced Boer trenches, under guard of an armed man, escaped. He snatched up his bayonet, attacked the Boer, and disarmed him in return, carrying off his Mauser and bandolier. With these trophies he safely regained his comrades. [Illustration: SOLDIERS ON THE VELDT AS SEEN FROM THE WAR BALLOON.]