No news whatever reached the town from outside, but this did not trouble the inhabitants very much, as they were sure that Colley was advancing to their relief, and even got up sweep-stakes as to the date of his arrival.

Now and then a sortie took place, but, as the results attained were very small, and were not, on the whole, creditable to our arms, perhaps the less said about them the better.

John, of course, went out on these occasions, and then Jess would endure agonies that were all the worse because she was forced to conceal them.

She lived in constant terror lest he should be among the killed.

However, nothing happened to him, and things went on as usual till the twelfth of February, when an attack was made on a place called the Red House Kraal, which was occupied by Boers near a spot known as the Six-mile Spruit.
The force, which was a mixed one, left Pretoria before daybreak, and John went with it.