It can be imagined how we devoured them.

They told of three determined attacks on the town on the third day after I had left, all successfully repulsed, and of a bombardment on the following Monday.

The latter had been somewhat of a farce, and had done no damage, except to one or two buildings which, by an irony of fate, included the Dutch church and hotel and the convent.
The shells were of such poor quality that they were incapable of any explosive force whatever.[26] After nine hours' bombardment, although some narrow escapes were recorded, the only casualties were one chicken killed and one dog wounded.

An emissary from Commandant Snyman had then come solemnly into the town under a flag of truce, to demand an unconditional surrender "to avoid further bloodshed." Colonel Baden-Powell politely replied that, as far as he was concerned, operations had not begun.

The messenger was given refreshment at Dixon's Hotel, where lunch was laid out as usual.