Hunter's bravado—"Long Tom" knocked out—A gymkhana
under fire—Faith, Hope, and Charity—Flash signals from the
south—A new Creusot gun

CHAPTER VII THE SORTIES OF DECEMBER Retribution—Sir Archibald Hunter's bold scheme—A night attack—
Silently through the darkness—At the foot of Gun Hill—A broken
ascent—"Wie kom dar?" "The English are on us!"—Major Henderson
thrice wounded—Destroying "Leviathan"—Hussars suffer under
fire—Rejoicings in town—Sir George White's address to the
troops—Boer compliments—A raid for provender—A second sortie—
The Rifles' bold enterprise—An unwelcome light—Cutting the
wires—Surprise Hill reached—The sentry's challenge—Rifles'
charge with the bayonet—Boer howitzer destroyed—The return to
camp—Cutting the way home—Serious losses CHAPTER VIII AFTER COLENSO The Town-Guard called out—Echoes of Colenso—Heliograms from
Buller—The Boers and Dingaan's Day—Disappointing news—Special
correspondents summoned—Victims of the bombardment—Shaving
under shell fire—Tea with Lord Ava—Boer humour: "Where is
Buller?"—Sir George White's narrow escape—A disastrous shot—
Fiftieth day of the siege—Grave and gay—"What does England
think of us?"—Stoical artillerymen—The moral courage of
caution—How Doctor Stark was killed—Serious thoughts—Gordons
at play—Boers watch the match—A story by the way—"My name is
Viljoen"—How Major King won his liberty—A tribute to Boer
hospitality—"We rely on your Generals"—General White and
Schalk-Burger—A coward chastised—"Sticking it out" CHAPTER IX A CHRISTMAS UNDER SIEGE Husbanding supplies—Colonel Ward's fine work—Our Christmas
market—A scanty show—Some startling prices—A word to cynics—
The compounding of plum-puddings—The strict rules of
temperance—Boer greetings "per shell"—A lady's narrow escape—
Correspondents provide sport—"Ginger" and the mules—The sick
and wounded—Some kindly gifts—Christmas tree for the children—
Sir George White and the little ones—"When the war is over"—Some
empty rumours—A fickle climate—Eight officers killed and
wounded—More messages from Buller—Booming the old year out CHAPTER X THE GREAT ASSAULT Why the Boers attacked—Interesting versions—A general surprise—
Joubert's promise—Boer tactics reconsidered—Erroneous estimates—
Under cover of night—A bare-footed advance—The Manchesters
surprised—The fight on Waggon Hill—In praise of the Imperial
Light Horse—A glorious band—The big guns speak—Lord Ava falls—
Gordons and Rifles to the rescue—A perilous position—The death of
a hero—A momentary panic—Man to man—A gallant enemy—Burghers
who fell fighting—The storming of Cæsar's Camp—Shadowy forms in
the darkness—An officer captured—"Maak Vecht!"—Abdy's guns in
play—"Well done, gunners!"—Taking water to the wounded—
Dick-Cunyngham struck down—Some anxious moments—The Devons charge
home—A day well won CHAPTER XI WATCHING FOR BULLER Sir Redvers Buller's second attempt—A message from the Queen—Last
sad farewells—Burial of Steevens and Lord Ava—At dead of night—
Relief army north of the Tugela—Water difficulties surmised—A
look in at Bulwaan—Spion Kop from afar—What the watchers saw—
The Boers trekking—Buller withdraws—The "key" thrown away—
Good-bye to luxuries—Precautions against disease—"Chevril"—The
damming of the Klip—Horseflesh unabashed—One touch of pathos—
Vague memories of home—Sweet music from the south—Buller tries
again—Disillusionment—The last pipe of tobacco CHAPTER XII AFTER ONE HUNDRED DAYS Boer pæan of victory—Rations cut down—Sausage without mystery—
The "helio" moves east—Sick and dying at Intombi—Famine prices
at market—Laughter quits the camps—A kindly thing by the enemy—
Good news at last—Heroes in tatters—The distant tide of battle—
Pulse-like throb of rifles—Two sons for the Empire—British
infantry on Monte Cristo—Boer ambulances moving north—"'Ave you
'eard the noos?"—Rations increased—Bulwaan strikes his tents—
"With a rifle and a red cross"—Buller "going strong"—Cronje's
surrender—A sorry celebration—"A beaten army in full retreat"—
"Puffing Billy" dismantled—General Buller's message—belief at
hand CHAPTER XIII RELIEF AT LAST The beginning of the end—Buller's last advance—Heroic
Inniskillings—The coming of Dundonald—A welcome at Klip River
Drift—A weather-stained horseman—The Natal troopers—Cheers
and tears—A grand old General—Sir George White's address—
"Thank God, we have kept the flag flying!"—"God save the Queen"—
Arrival of Buller—Looking backward—Within four days of
starvation—Horseflesh a mere memory—Eight hundred sick and
wounded—A word of tribute—Conclusion

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ILLUSTRATIONS

Sir George Stewart White, V.C., G.C.S.I. (from a photograph by Window & Grove)

The Royal Hotel, Ladysmith (showing the ruins of Mr. Pearse's bedroom wrecked by a shell from "Long Tom," 3rd Nov. 1899)

A shell-proof resort (a culvert under a road used as a living place by day for civilians, who returned to their houses when