[Sidenote: DEC. 11-13, 1899.] _Fighting on Extended Lines._] Throughout December skirmishing continued in the Colesberg district of Cape Colony between General French's small army and the Boer commandos which had marched into the Colony in November by way of Norvals Pont, with the object of menacing or breaking Lord Methuen's communications with the sea. In Chapter VII. we left General French with just under 3,000 men, including the garrisons at Naauwpoort and Hanover Road; his headquarters on December 8 at Tweedale, twenty-six miles south of Colesberg Junction; and his outposts eighteen miles further north, near Rensburg. He had available for action against the Boers a wing of the Berkshires, the 6th Dragoon Guards, O and R Horse Artillery Batteries, a troop of New South Wales Lancers, the New Zealand Mounted Infantry, some companies of regular mounted infantry, and a few colonial scouts. The strength of the Boers was ascertained by reconnaissance to be about 2,000, and to deal with such a force more men were required. On December 8 and 9, the 10th Hussars and 6th Dragoons were sent forward to him from Capetown, and these were followed a day or two later by a squadron of the 2nd Dragoons, who were, however, shortly afterwards withdrawn and despatched north. General French, whose tactics were ceaselessly to harass the enemy, but not to allow himself to be drawn into a serious action before his strength was adequate, lost no time in making use of his reinforcements. On the 11th a reconnaissance was directed to Vaal Kop, a high ridge close to Rensburg, which was held by the enemy. For the first time the Horse Artillery came into action in South Africa, a section of R Battery shelling Vaal Kop and inflicting some loss upon the Boers. They abandoned the hill, which was at once seized and held by the British. [Illustration: [_Copyright 1900 by Underwood & Underwood._ LUXURIES FROM HOME. Arrival in camp of a consignment of tobacco, cigarettes, and other luxuries.] [Illustration: [_Photo by R. C. E. Nisson._ COLONEL PORTER TAKING HIS EARLY MORNING COFFEE.] [Sidenote: Engagements near Arundel and Rensburg.]