“The British, being warned by the dust in the distance that our commando was coming, considered it wiser to quit the village, fall back on Valsch River and occupy positions on the right bank of it.  Darkness had now set in, and we could do no more than place our pickets round the column.  We had, however, not enough men that night to make sure that should the enemy try to escape they would not succeed.  Forsooth, we were greatly surprised to find them still there the following morning.  It seemed to us a little over-bold on their part to stay on with only two Maxims at their command.  We did not know then that it would take us three and a half days, and some precious lives, before the white flag would be hoisted.  The next day we surrounded them completely and thus knew that unless reinforced they would have to surrender.

“Early in the morning firing commenced; but the enemy had occupied during the night such strong positions—­the hills and ridges on the river banks—­that they were quite secure.  We had the bed of the river, from whence we could not inflict such losses as would compel the enemy to capitulate.  They held the key of the positions, and unless we could seize that stronghold, all our efforts would be useless.  The question was, how to take it.  Without the assistance of guns it was a dangerous and risky undertaking to charge that particular position—­a hill on the right bank of the river.  Our men, in charging it, would be exposed to a rifle and Maxim fire for at least 800 yards.  Under cover of guns, however, it was possible to reach the hill.  A gun was immediately sent for, and on the evening of the third day of the siege it arrived at Lindley.

“That night the gun was placed in position, and at dawn the hill was shelled.  I stood watching the shells, as one after the other exploded on the hill.  Not a living object was visible, none stirred, and so still (I shall not say at ease) did the English lie in the skanzes that I remarked to Prinsloo:  ’General, it seems the enemy has abandoned the hill during the night, else we must already have seen some signs of them.’

     [Illustration:  THE LINDLEY AFFAIR.]

“After we had bombarded the hill for some time, a number of burghers charged it.  Breathlessly we stood watching these gallant chargers.  Arrived at the foot of the hill, they dismounted, and began climbing it.  For some time all went well, when lo! a fire was directed against them from the summit.  Being quite coverless on the slopes of the hill, they were forced to retreat.  As they retreated the enemy rose to their feet and fired as briskly as they could at them.  When we saw the English on top of the hill we mistook them for Boers, and began to clap hands and cheer, thinking that the hill had been taken by our men.  We were soon disillusioned.

“As the burghers retreated, something