Part 34 (2/2)

But it had obvious disadvantages when held against a besieging force

With trenches and redoubts the encircling hills could be held, but beyond these there was a second outer circle, from which a fierce bombardment could be kept up by the Boers Guy and Jack drove round the defences, and noticed that the chief position was to the south of the caon Hill and Caesar's Camp, and it was near the latter that Jack's field hospital lay

Outside, the Boers had uns on several hills, and from these, ever since the camp was surrounded on October 30th, they had kept up aimmense numbers of shells into the town But the results were not very creditable

Football and cricket unners, while the officers played polo Occasionally a shell would plu, but very little dae was done

As Guy and Jack drove across towards the northern part a huge shell pitched just in front of their horses, and, burying itself deep in the ground, exploded, throwing dirt all over theo on, Jack?” asked Guy ”Those Boer fellows have spotted us, I expect Perhaps you don't feel quite up to it just now that you are weak after your wound”

”Hu!” was Jack's answer ”Get ahead, Guy; it's only a chance shot that will hit us”

”Ah, I thought you'd say that!” Guy continued; ”and the majority of felloho have been hurt say that had they been out in the open they could have easily run away But a few shells have burst in houses and tents, and some people have been killed Of course the Boers have pounded the town, and have even sent a few shots through the big hospital At any rate it has been hot work in there, and now all non-coround at Into”

At this s, the officer who had conducted the sortie which had helped Jack and his friends back into Ladysmith, came up to the cart

”Hallo, Jack So hi to turn out of that hospital and join Guy in our ive, and he says so, old boy? We'd like awfully to hear all about that little affair”

”Well, I hope to be out in a few days now,” Jack replied with a laugh

”But shut up about that Ki these fellows?”

There was a loud laugh at Jack's expense, and then Rawlings cli fellows on their drive

”I can tell you, Jack,” he said, ”that you had better hurry up and get your strength back, for those beggars outside are getting restless again Just fancy, they have been firing away at us, and looking into the ca to take it, they have only made one feeble assault We beat theain I expect we shall give the You chaps haven't had all the fun to yourselves We ers teeth We've played that gauns twice, in addition to that ti And we've also upset hi out the cavalry If it had been a British force investing Boers in Ladysmith, I'm open to bet a new hat that we'd have turned the on for thole ain soon, especially now that Buller has been checked at Colenso and cannot release us at present I can tell you, chaps, it's a beast of a position You see these hills round here?

Well, the main Boer army, under Joubert, blocks the country between this and the River Tugela, and that country is choke-full of rocky hills and kopjes To reach this camp and set us free the British troops have first to cross the river, and then they have to fight their way foot by foot past all those hills, every one of which will have guns mounted on the suuns It is a difficult undertaking, and Buller and his troops, in spite of the greatest bravery, failed in the first step--the crossing of the river-- on Deceraph has told us the whole story, and noe know that the Boers had entrenched the whole of the north bank of the river for miles on either side of Colenso You've seen our trenches here, and can guess how difficult it is to locate the, had concealed theirs perfectly, and the heaviest artillery fire failed toelse for it but an assault over an open stretch of country, just the kind of work that our

”With splendid dash, General Hart's brigade moved forward on the left to the drift across the river, supported by General Hildyard's brigade, guns acco both But the drift, which is usually fordable, was now too deep, for the Boers had dammed the river Added to that, all those who crossed were under a terrific rifle fire Still, our lads did it, and got to the other side, only to find the position untenable It was altogether terribly hot work, and it was soon seen that a frontal attack could not succeed Buller recognised it early, and skilfully withdrew his alloped forward to support the infantry, but got so close to the masked trenches of the Boers that all the horses were shot down iallant fight of it, but they had fallen into an auns away, only tere saved, the others being captured by the ene the battle Colenso was occupied by our troops, but later on was evacuated In the evening, after having sustained severe losses in uns, our army retired to its camp The Boers, too, suffered very heavily in spite of rocks and boulders

”It was a check, and a severe check, but our boys went back that night not a bit disheartened; and now, by all accounts, they are itching to make another attempt Meanwhile, here we are, poor little Ladysarrisoned by some 9000 men on half-rations, with no luxuries, and with typhoid fever and dysentery raging ah to dispirit anyone, but we are hopeful still; and I guarantee, if you coood a game as you could see at ho restless

Reinforceuns, and they know very well that he is only getting everything ready beforeanother--and let us hope this time successful--attempt

Their aim and object is to capture this ca desperate, for to fail to take us will -stock of the world But an assault is distasteful to the Boer

Nothing goes so rain, unless perhaps it is a British bayonet But he will try it, and when he does we shall have our work cut out There, now you know all about it, and if you hurry up and get strong, Jack, you'll be able to take a hand in the affair”

”Well, I feel alhed, ”and if the caet hold of a rifle sos answered heartily ”Such a fire-eater as you are would be certain to be so to our mess and lunch They can spare you from the hospital for once, and I don't suppose it matters much what you eat, now that you are up and about”