Substantial reinforcements--Guns taken to summit of Zwart Kop--Plan of attack on Vaal Krantz--Lie of the land--Another crossing of the Tugela--Demonstration towards Brakfontein--Bombardment of Vaal Krantz--Infantry storm the height--Difficulty of holding the position--Disappearing guns--Renewed attacks--Council of war--Evacuation of the ridge--Losses--Disappointment in Britain. [Sidenote: Substantial reinforcements.] Twice beaten back, twice discomfited, neither the general nor his army lost heart. No sooner had the army withdrawn across the Tugela than, in a review, General Buller told his men that he held the key to Ladysmith, and hoped yet to be in that town in a week. It is possible that this speech was made in accordance with suggestions from Capetown, so that the enemy's attention might be diverted from the great campaign, now about to begin in the west. Meantime he was strongly reinforced. Three thousand drafts from home reached him, more than replacing the losses of Colenso and Spion Kop. Not less important was the addition now made to his artillery. Two siege 5-inch guns supplemented his 4·7 weapons of position, and a great 6-inch naval gun on a special mounting was also sent up from Durban. Besides these, another Field Battery and A Horse Artillery Battery joined him, and thus, as the guns lost at Colenso were now replaced, he found himself with seventy-eight serviceable guns--an immense change from the days of Colenso and of the first operations in Natal. He received, too, the best part of another cavalry regiment--the 14th Hussars. General Woodgate, mortally wounded on Spion Kop and now lying betwixt life and death, was replaced in command of his brigade by Colonel Wynne. Thus all was ready for a fresh attempt. [Sidenote: Guns taken to summit of Zwart Kop.] [Sidenote: FEB. 4, 1900.] _Vaal Krantz to be Seized._] The army remained in its camp at Spearman's Farm, close to Potgieter's Ford, until February 4. The wait was utilised to move six naval 12-pounders, two field guns, and the mountain battery, to the summit of Zwart Kop. The slopes of the mountain were so steep and precipitous that the work was one of no little difficulty and danger. Steel hawsers were employed, attached to trees on the summit, to warp up the heavier weapons; the little mountain 7-pounders were carried up on mule-back, but even the mules found it hard to keep their footing, and one in the battery fell and was killed. The first of the naval 12-pounders, too, had overturned on its way up and caused no little trouble. On January 30, the cavalry pushed out far to the west in a reconnaissance, the object of which was to distract the attention of the Boers, but they saw little of the enemy. The troops at Chieveley, to keep up the mystification, demonstrated at their end of the line and shelled the Boer works at Colenso. [Illustration: BIVOUAC ON THE TUGELA AFTER SPION KOP.