As the transports reached Durban a considerable force of British troops assembled at Estcourt between November 16 and 19. Two battalions of infantry, Bethune's mounted infantry--raised in Natal--and two batteries of artillery were the first to arrive. On the 18th there was skirmishing between the Boers and the British troops a couple of miles to the north of Estcourt. The enemy raised the Transvaal Flag at Weenen and scoured the whole country on both sides of the railway between Colenso and Estcourt. On the 19th Boers were seen at Highlands, two stations to the south of Estcourt and close to Mooi River, where a small British force was encamped. It was decided to attack the enemy under cover of darkness, and on the 20th 900 British infantry, 450 mounted men and two naval guns moved out from Estcourt under Colonel Hinde. But at the last minute news was received that the Boers were far stronger than had been supposed. Colonel Hinde hesitated to attack, and the opportunity was lost. On the 21st the British column tardily approached the enemy's position, and was about two miles off it when intelligence arrived that another Boer commando was approaching the railway from the west. Fearful of being cut off, after indulging in a little skirmishing with the Boers the British fell back to the railway, entrained, and retired precipitately to Estcourt. In the evening, the railway and telegraph south of Estcourt were broken and the British force there isolated. On the same day Mooi River Camp, where were 4,000 or 5,000 British troops, was shelled at extreme range. The boldness of the Boers is proved by the fact now known that they ventured upon this daring act in the face of a far superior force of disciplined troops with a second superior force to their rear. [Illustration: LANCERS AT NOTTINGHAM ROAD. The most southerly point reached by the Boers in Natal.] [Illustration: THE CLOCK OF CHIEVELEY CAMP. The cartridge-case of one of the large naval guns was used as a bell, a sword serving as clapper to strike the hours.] By this Boer advance a small party of Natal Police, under Captain Cayzer, who had gone to Weenen to maintain signalling communication with Ladysmith, were all but cut off. They had an exciting time of it. Having climbed a mountain 5,000 feet high and set up their instruments, just as night fell a native brought them news that they were in the very midst of 1,200 Boers. Fortunately the night was pitch dark, pouring with rain, and in the plash of the deluge they were able to steal their way unperceived down a precipitous disused Kaffir track. At the bottom, however, it was found that Captain Cayzer's horse had broken its fetlock. One of the police took the Captain up behind, and in this plight the party rode before the enemy first into Greytown and then on to Pietermaritzburg. [Sidenote: Boer advance checked at Nottingham Road.]