No sooner was the danger realised--the fact understood that a British garrison was fighting for its very life almost within sight of a British army of 30,000 men--than it was felt that this army could not stand by inert and un-helping. But the scattering of the British relief force precluded all serious attack; it was impossible in the time available to bring up the men from Frere and Estcourt; the most that could be attempted was to send in the two brigades at Chieveley to make a show of assault upon the Colenso lines, and so prevent the Boers from weakening their strength at this point. Even so the demonstration was tardily made. It was soon after 2 a.m. that the Boer artillery began its fierce bombardment of Ladysmith; it was not till 2 p.m. that General Hildyard's and General Barton's Brigades, with three batteries of artillery, marched out of camp and swept down the open, undulating plain which intervened between Chieveley and Colenso. Now, too, the naval guns opened a heavy fire upon the Colenso works. The Boers could be seen riding back in small parties from the direction of Ladysmith towards Colenso, so that the spell was working. On the flanks the 13th Hussars moved out to Springfield and Thorneycroft's men deployed in the direction of Hlangwane, advancing to Hussar Hill. The infantry opened out in scattered order, and pushed forward towards the battleground of December 15. The field batteries opened fire and there was a dress rehearsal of a battle--continuous long-range firing on the part of the British, to which the enemy only replied with the shots of a few marksmen from near the village of Colenso. The vast entrenchments, stretching mile after mile, were silent; the enemy's artillery obstinately refused to disclose itself. Just at this point another message, terrifying in its suggestiveness, came through from Ladysmith:-- [Sidenote: Further message from Ladysmith.] "12·45 p.m. Have beaten enemy off at present, but they are still round me in great numbers, especially to south, and I think renewed attack very probable." [Illustration: CHURCH STREET, PIETERMARITZBERG.] After this came silence. Black clouds covered the sky; the sun failed; and the British headquarters and army were left in heartbreaking suspense. [Illustration: BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF PIETERMARITZBURG, LOOKING EAST. Pietermaritzburg, called after two Boer leaders, Pieter Retief and Gert Maritz, is the seat of Government in Natal, and since the beginning of the war has served as the official military base for the operations in that colony. The town has normally a population of about 20,000, of whom half are whites. It is beautifully situated amid sloping hills and fertile pastures, and is 70 miles distant from Durban. It is a metropolis in miniature, and the churches, hotels, banks, clubs, town hall, legislative council buildings, museum, and library are worthy of the capital of the "Garden Colony."] [Sidenote: JAN. 6, 1900.] _Ladysmith in Peril._]