In other directions there was an unfortunate amount of carelessness. For instance, on November 2 a Boer ambulance containing British wounded was allowed to enter the town, and was not immediately taken charge of by the British medical staff. It was afterwards discovered that the driver was a foreign artillery officer in the Boer service, who used his opportunity to examine the weak points of the town. This ruse was certainly unjustifiable, but steps might well have been taken to guard against it, for our generals knew by this time the character of the enemy. There were other grave abuses of the Red Cross flag; on October 30 the Boers masked one of their laagers with an ambulance, and on the 31st they built an emplacement for a gun under shelter of the sacred emblem. [Illustration: NAVAL QUICK-FIRING GUN DETACHMENT.] [Sidenote: The town beleaguered.] On the night of the 31st all preparations for a siege were made. Earthworks were constructed by the garrison, the naval 4·7's placed in the best position, and ammunition and stores distributed at various points wide apart so as to be safe from fire. [Illustration: _John Charlton._] NATAL FIELD ARTILLERY DESCENDING THE BANK OF A "SPRUIT" OR STREAM.] [Sidenote: [NOV. 3, 1899.] November 1 was spent in getting in the wounded, under a flag of truce. Next day the Boers bombarded the town, mortally wounding Lieutenant Egerton, but had one of their laagers captured by the British cavalry and a battery of artillery. In the afternoon General French left by train for Pietermaritzburg; at Pieters, two stations south of Ladysmith, the Boers were in position with a Maxim 1-pounder and fired on the train. The General only escaped death by lying on the floor of the compartment, as projectiles riddled the side of the carriage. The engine-driver showed great pluck and presence of mind, and this, the last train to leave Ladysmith, got through the enemy's lines in safety. Later in the afternoon railway and telegraph communications were interrupted, and Ladysmith was isolated. [Illustration: THE ARMOURED TRAIN DESTROYED BY THE BOERS AT KRAAIPAN. The destruction of this train was the first overt act of war (see page 49). Kraaipan is a station between Mafeking and Vryburg on the Cape to Cairo Railway.]