Finally, after all compliments, he drove away, bearing a private letter from Mr.Fanshawe to be posted through Delagoa Bay and Amsterdam.
_December 15, 1899._ In my own mind I had always fixed to-day as the beginning of our deliverance from this grotesque situation.

It may be so still.

Very heavy firing was heard down Colenso way from dawn till noon.

Colonel Downing, commanding the artillery, said some of it was our field-guns, and it seemed nearer than two days ago.
The Bulwan gun gave us his customary serenade from heaven's gate.

He did rather more damage than usual, wrecking two nice houses just below my cottage.