With the full dawn and the first snapping of Boer Mausers from the hills around they had thrown up some sort of rude defences which they might hope to hold until help should come.
But how could help come when there was no means by which they could let White know the plight in which they found themselves?
They had brought a heliograph with them, but it was on the back of one of those accursed mules.

The Boers were thick around them, and they could not send a messenger.

An attempt was made to convert a polished biscuit tin into a heliograph, but with poor success.

A Kaffir was dispatched with promises of a heavy bribe, but he passed out of history.

And there in the clear cold morning air the balloon hung to the south of them where the first distant thunder of White's guns was beginning to sound.