On the days which followed, the Boers concentrated so serious a fire upon Vaal Kop that the detachment holding the hill had to abandon it on the 16th. Two days later General French made a reconnaissance with the O Battery and the New Zealanders to the east of Rensburg, and came under an unexpected fire, but, fortunately, without suffering much, though the New Zealanders lost two men. The Boers were found to have mounted a heavy position gun at Taaiboschlaagte, a ridge a little to the east of Rensburg, whence they harassed the British force with shells at a range of 7,000 yards. For ten days no further progress was reported on the part of the British arms, though the Boers were steadily annoyed by "sniping" and fire from the Horse Artillery guns. But on December 27, General French noted signs that the enemy meditated retirement. Waggons were seen proceeding towards Colesberg, and, reinforcements having joined him in the shape of the 1st Yorkshires and half a battalion of the 1st Suffolks, he was able to press their flanks more vigorously. Finally, on the 29th, the Boers evacuated their positions at Rensburg, and fell back to Colesberg. Their position at that point protected the railway, which runs by Norvals Pont to the Free State, and the road bridge, which spans the Orange River at Botha's Drift. There was good water, whereas the country near Rensburg was almost waterless, a fact which seriously hampered General French in his operations. [Illustration: MAXIM WITH GALLOPING CARRIAGE COMING INTO ACTION.] [Sidenote: British camp moved to Rensburg. Fighting round Coles Kop.] [Sidenote: [DEC. 30, 1899-JAN. 4, 1900.] [Sidenote: French's mobility.]