His prudence, did he not do so, might become the subject of public commendation, but might also provoke some private comment.

A soldier's training is to take chances, and to do the best he can with the material at his disposal.
Again, Colonel Carleton and Major Adye knew the general plan of the battle which would be raging within a very few hours, and they quite understood that by withdrawing they would expose General White's left flank to attack from the forces (consisting, as we know now, of the Orange Freestaters and of the Johannesburg Police) who were coming from the north and west.

He hoped to be relieved by eleven, and he believed that, come what might, he could hold out until then.

These are the most obvious of the considerations which induced Colonel Carleton to determine to carry out so far as he could the programme which had been laid down for him and his command.

He marched up the hill and occupied the position.
His heart, however, must have sunk when he examined it.