The early days of January passed and the signs of an immediate advance accumulated. In all the camps action was in the air; the last touches were being put to the transport; an embargo was laid upon all news which might instruct England or the enemy of what was in preparation. These indications could not have escaped the watchful eye of the Boer Government, and early, very early, in the morning of January 6 the Boers struck their blow. At 2 a.m. the British camp at Chieveley was awakened by the distant tumult of a heavy artillery fire away towards Ladysmith. The thunder of the guns was continuous and ominous. All the morning it lasted, while the British soldiers listened, and chafed, and wondered, and, as the truth dawned upon them, prayed that Ladysmith might that day uphold the honour and greatness of England. [Illustration: _F. de Haenen._] [_From a sketch by Winston Churchill._ WAITING FOR NIGHT. After dropping from the goods train, Mr. Churchill hid for fourteen hours in a wood, consumed with thirst, and watched, as he relates in his letter to the _Morning Post_, by a vulture, "who manifested an extravagant interest in my condition, and made hideous and ominous gurglings from time to time."] [Sidenote: [JAN. 6, 1900.] The morning passed in anxiety and the growl of the guns ceased. The day was black and stormy, but at times the sun broke through the clouds and the heliographs flashed fitfully. From Ladysmith came these messages of alarm:-- [Sidenote: Messages from Ladysmith.] "9 a.m. Enemy attacked Cæsar's Camp at 2·45 this morning in considerable force. Enemy everywhere repulsed, but fighting still continues." "11 a.m. Attack continues, and enemy has been reinforced from south." [Illustration: _F. W. Burton._] THE BOER ATTACK ON CÆSAR'S CAMP.] [Illustration: [_Photo by C. Knight, Aldershot._ GENERAL SIR REDVERS BULLER, V.C. Commander-in-Chief of the forces in South Africa up to the date of Lord Roberts's arrival. A brief account of General Buller's military career is given on page 77.] [Illustration: THE NAVAL 4·7 GUNS SHELLING THE COLENSO LINES.] [Sidenote: [JAN. 6, 1900.] [Sidenote: Relief force attacks Colenso.] [Sidenote: Advances on Springfield and Hussar Hill.] [Sidenote: Failure to draw the Boers.]