Nothing happened during the day except the capture of the ferry, which daring enterprise was carried out by volunteers from the South African Light Horse.  Six swimmers, protected by a covering party of twenty men, swam the flooded Tugela and began to haul the punt back, whereat the Boers concealed in the kopjes opened a brisk fire at long range on the naked figures, but did not hit anyone nor prevent them all from bringing the punt safely to our side:  a dashing exploit, of which their regiment—­the ‘Cockyolibirds,’ as the army, with its customary irreverence, calls us on account of the cock’s feather cockades we wear in our hats (miserable jealousy!)—­are immensely proud.

The falling of the Tugela increased the danger of our position, and I was delighted when I woke up the next morning, the second of our adventurous occupation, to find Colonel Sandbach, to whom I had confided my doubts, outside my tent, saying ’I suppose you’ll be happy now.  Two battalions have arrived.’  And, sure enough, when I looked southwards, I saw a steady rivulet of infantry trickling through the gorge, and forming a comfortable brown inundation in the hollow where our camp lay.  A few minutes later Sir Redvers Buller and his staff rode up to see things for themselves, and then we knew that all was well.

The General made his way to the great stone we call the observatory, and lying down on his back peered through a telescope in silence for the best part of an hour.  Then he went off to breakfast with the Cavalry Brigade staff.  A few officers remained behind to take a still more exhaustive view.  ‘There’ll be some wigs on that green before long.’  ‘What a wonderful sight it will be from here!’ ’What a place to see a battle from!’ Two artillerymen were loitering near.  Said one:  ’We ought to have the Queen up here, in her little donkey carriage.’  ’Ah, we’d do it all right then,’ replied his comrade.  But when I looked at the peaceful plain and reflected on the storm and tumult presently to burst upon it, I could not help being glad that no gentle eye would view that bloody panorama.

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] This complaint was not in one respect justified by what followed, for after we left Spearman’s we only saw our tents for a day or two, and at rare intervals, until Ladysmith was relieved.

[2] Vide map, opposite p. 366, which will be found to illustrate the subsequent letters.

CHAPTER XVI

TRICHARDT’S DRIFT AND THE AFFAIR OF ACTON HOMES

Venter’s Spruit:  January 22, 1900.