Further preparations for the relief of Ladysmith--Burial of Lieutenant Roberts--Destruction of Colenso road-bridge--Picket surprised by Boers--Fifth Division reaches Natal--Want of howitzers--Arrival of a balloon and traction engines--Christmas in camp--Disposition of relief force--Boer positions--Mr. Winston Churchill escapes--Boer attack on Cæsar's Camp--Messages from Ladysmith--Relief force attacks Colenso--Advances on Springfield and Hussar Hill--Fail to draw the Boers--Further message from Ladysmith--Storm ends a desultory movement--The flag still flying in Ladysmith--Heroes in rags--Mud everywhere--Composition of the relief force--The army moves--Hampered by baggage--Difficulties of the march--Dundonald seizes Zwart Kop--The pont intact--The Boers entrenching--General Buller's plan of attack--The crossing of Potgieter's Drift 235-262 CHAPTER XIII.--SPION KOP. Jan. 16-27, 1900. Warren's Divisions cross the Tugela--The enemy entrenching--The artillery and transport cross--A long delay--Spion Kop bombarded--Lyttelton's feigned attack--The cavalry seize Acton Homes--Desultory movements before Spion Kop--Change of plan--Advance on the left ordered--Capture of Three-tree Hill and Bastion Hill--Death of Major Childe--Assault ordered and countermanded--Lyttelton's advance--Warren telegraphs for howitzers--Rumoured relief of Ladysmith--Another day of little progress--Pathetic humour--Assault ordered and postponed--Another council of war--Warren reinforced--The storming force--Ascent of Spion Kop--A Boer picket surprised--The storming force halts too soon--Tardy reinforcements--Botha determines to recapture the hill--Positions of the opposing forces--The Boers bombard the British position--Woodgate wounded--Thorneycroft put in command--A frightful struggle--Lack of artillery support--Boer attempts to rush the position--The King's Royal Rifles storm a ridge--Desperate straits--Confusion of commands--Thorneycroft determines to withdraw--Scene on the hill after the battle--Losses in the action--The retreat--Causes of the defeat 263-307 CHAPTER XIV.--VAAL KRANTZ. Jan. 30-Feb. 7, 1900. Substantial reinforcements--Guns taken to summit of Zwart Kop--Plan of attack on Vaal Krantz--Lie of the land--Another crossing of the Tugela--Demonstration towards Brakfontein--Bombardment of Vaal Krantz--Infantry storm the height--Difficulty of holding the position--Disappearing guns--Renewed attacks--Council of war--Evacuation of the ridge--Losses--Disappointment in Britain 308-319 CHAPTER XV.--COLESBERG AND THE WEST. Dec. 1899-Feb. 10, 1900.