This brush with the Boers took place a little south of the real summit, at a point where stood a grove of mimosa bushes, and where there was fair cover. But from this point onward no difficulty was encountered; the slope relented; the ridge opened out into one of those table-lands which are a feature of South African mountain scenery. Breathless and weary, the men pushed forward without any opposition, their movements veiled in the mist through which the first grey light of dawn was now breaking. They stood upon "a fog-bound island in the air." The plateau, 400 yards wide, seemed to trend away interminably to the north-east. And here the first great mistake, as after events proved, was committed. Instead of pushing on to the uttermost extremity of the summit, the forlorn hope halted about 5 a.m. at a Boer trench which was captured without episode. Possibly the troops, wearied by their seven hours' climb in the darkness, were incapable of any further desperate effort. They must needs be prepared to maintain their position throughout the day--a day which might well be one of the fiercest fighting--and so rest was essential. Some attempt was made to provide cover while the mist still veiled the mountain top. Yet, by reason of this very mist, the exact position of the enemy could not be ascertained or the defences constructed where they were most needed. The surface of the hill was not favourable to entrenching; it was of rock, friable indeed, but not to be cut with spades, and the covering of earth was of the thinnest. Perhaps the weariness of the infantry and the want of sufficient entrenching tools would have precluded the construction of serious defences even had the ground been wholly favourable. The men were in no condition to set to work as navvies. All these things must be remembered when it is asked why the troops did not entrench themselves. Here, as at Majuba, the omission was fatal; here, as there, the same explanation will suffice for the neglect of so obvious a precaution. What trenches were made were only scratched in the thin soil, a few inches deep, and though serviceable enough against rifle fire, were utterly ineffectual against artillery. Stones to build breastworks were wanting; there were many boulders on the summit, but these were too large to be moved. The Boer works were remodelled as well as was possible under the circumstances. This done, the little force waited for the lifting of the mist, when the ordeal of battle would begin, and when for the first time the exact situation could be discerned. [Illustration: BOERS FIRING A KRUPP HOWITZER. The photograph was taken outside Ladysmith; guns and gunners were removed to Spion Kop when Warren developed his attack.] [Illustration: [_From a photograph taken at Newcastle Station._ PRESIDENT STEYN'S VISIT TO NATAL.] [Sidenote: JAN. 24, 1900.] _The Attacking Force not Promptly Supported._] [Sidenote: Tardy reinforcements.]