The two battalions of the King's Royal Rifles were the leading infantry, and as they were ordered to retreat came under a heavy fire, and were thrown into disastrous confusion. Indeed, for a moment it looked like complete rout, and had the enemy snatched his opportunity that would have been the end of the Ladysmith army. But with superb devotion the 53rd Field Battery galloped forward and prepared to offer the last sacrifice which artillery can make--to save the army at the cost of its own annihilation. The automatic Maxim shells rained upon the guns; a cloud of dust hid the 15-pounders from view; but the gunners stuck manfully, heroically to their task under a terrible cross-fire. For half-an-hour they held their ground; one limber was shattered; five out of six horses of one gun were killed. Then, at last, the five intact guns fell back. Nor was the sixth gun abandoned. Bombardier Saunders, Gunners Bright and Barron, and Drivers Macpherson, Darcy, and Stoddard, under Captain Thwaites, dashed back with a team and limber from the waggons and under a tremendous fire brought off the last weapon. [Illustration: LANDING AT DURBAN OF REINFORCEMENTS FOR LADYSMITH. The enthusiasm of the loyal colonists found expression in their lavish gifts to the soldiers and sailors on the way to the front. Cigars, pineapples, pillows, and ladies' visiting cards were pressed upon them, the last with promises to send anything which might be needed, "on demand."] [Sidenote: [OCT. 30, 1899.] This half-hour's delay was the salvation of Ladysmith. Already one of the two battalions from Durban, the 2nd Rifle Brigade, had arrived by train and deployed upon the battlefield, a most welcome help and reinforcement. The 53rd and 13th Batteries covered the retreat in the centre, the one withdrawing while the other shelled the enemy. As the town of Ladysmith was neared it was discovered that the report of an intended Boer attack had been either unfounded or premature. But the Boer 40-pounders on Pepworth Hill were pouring a galling fire into the town. Help was needed to keep these long range guns in order, for none of our field artillery weapons could drive their projectiles the required distance. Help was dramatically forthcoming. [Illustration: MAXIM AUTOMATIC GUN.