And then gradually the rifle fire died away also, crackling more faintly as White withdrew to Ladysmith.
At eleven o'clock Carleton's column recognised that it had been left to its fate.

As early as nine a heliogram had been sent to them to retire as the opportunity served, but to leave the hill was certainly to court annihilation.
The men had then been under fire for six hours, and with their losses mounting and their cartridges dwindling, all hope had faded from their minds.

But still for another hour, and yet another, and yet another, they held doggedly on.

Nine and a half hours they clung to that pile of stones.

The Fusiliers were still exhausted from the effect of their march from Glencoe and their incessant work since.