General White, therefore, decided to hold the town. He had now under his orders about 12,000 men and 48 guns--36 15-pounders of the field artillery and 12 7-and 9-pounders of little value. Of the total force about 2,400 were mounted men. Against these the Boers had from 25,000 to 30,000 men and a large number of guns. They were, to a man, mounted, and good horsemen; many of them knew the country; all were accustomed to the peculiar warfare which the terrain in South Africa renders necessary. [Illustration: A SUNDAY SERVICE IN LADYSMITH.] CHAPTER III. THE INVESTMENT OF LADYSMITH, MAFEKING, AND KIMBERLEY. The Boers seize the heights dominating Ladysmith--The Battle of Farquhar's Farm--White withdraws to save the town--The guns brought off--Dramatic advent of the Bluejackets--Loss of Carleton's column--Neglect of precautions at Ladysmith--The town beleaguered--Condition of affairs on the Western Frontier--Doubtful attitude of the Schreiner Ministry--First act of war--Attempts to capture Mafeking--The Boers seize Vryburg--Kimberley isolated--Bombardment commenced--Stormberg district abandoned by the British--Attitude of the Cape Dutch. On October 27 a strong British column marched out of Ladysmith and reconnoitred. The enemy, being not as yet in sufficient strength, or possibly anxious to draw the British on, fell back, and there was nothing more than an interchange of shots. [Illustration: MARITZBURG HOTCHKISS GUN DETACHMENT. Shut up in Ladysmith; Lieut. Walker in command.] [Sidenote: The Boers seize the heights dominating Ladysmith.] There was a lull until the 30th. Between the 26th and 29th the Boers, repeating their Dundee tactics, seized the ridge to the north of Ladysmith known as Pepworth Hill, about 7,000 yards from the town, and placed two or more heavy 40-pounder siege guns in position there. They also brought up a large number of smaller guns--Schneider-Canet quick-firers and Maxim automatic 1-pounders--from the ample store with which the gold wrung from the Outlanders had provided them, and throwing up entrenchments, further strengthened a naturally strong and commanding position. [Illustration: NATAL CARBINEERS WITH MAXIM GUN. This picture represents the detachment under Lieut. Gallway in camp at Ladysmith. They were taken prisoners in the battle of Dundee.] [Sidenote: [OCT. 29, 1899.]