Just as George had finished, Colonel McDonnell, riding on a pony, reached us, and having heard the report, said: “Roach, the General has determined to attack as soon as he arrives, although I am sure the Kupapas will not have had time to come up. I am going to prolong your line of skirmishers to the right with Northcroft’s party, who will try and overlap the left of the pah. The Maoris who are in front of you will not offer a strenuous opposition, it’s their dart to try and draw you on to attack the pah. You will therefore drive them back across the ground on which George says the tree-stumps are still standing. When you reach the far edge of it take cover and try to smother the Maoris’ fire from the trench. The 14th and 57th are to rush the place. When the storming party has passed through your skirmishers sit tight until you are sure they have entered the works. If you see they have done so with a good chance of success, double your men, as fast as you can, round the left of the pah to the rear of it, so as to try and cut off the enemy’s escape. Should the attack fail, hold your ground till the last gasp and cover the stormers’ retreat. I shall have the Rangers call blown and the advance when I wish you to move. Here comes the column. What a row they make!” He was turning to ride away when his eye caught mine as I lay at the foot of a tree. With a nod he said: “Well, Burke, so you are already going to see some fighting. By Jove, if we could all get our desires granted so easily, what a jolly world it would be!” and with a pleasant laugh and another nod he rode back to the head of the approaching column that was advancing with a jingle and row you could hear a mile off. The gallant Tommies were supplied with abundance of mess-kit, which they carried loose in their haversacks, instead of the single pannikin we carried on our belts, and this kit made a big rattle, besides which there was the rumble and thump of the Armstrong guns. I was meditating on this noise when our corps call, followed by the advance, rang out, and in a moment we were in motion. Faith, it is an anxious--I was almost writing a solemn--feeling that comes over a man when, for the first time, he advances through a silent bush, knowing full well that every step he takes brings him nearer to possible wounds or death.