CHAPTER XV.
SICKNESS, DEATH, AND A NEW YEAR LADYSMITH, _December 26, 1899_.
Good news came through the heliograph about General Gatacre's force at Dordrecht.

There were rumours about Lord Methuen, too, for which Dr.
Jameson was quoted as authority.

But the best evidence for hope was the unusual violence of the bombardment.

It began early, and before the middle of the afternoon the Boers had thrown 178 shells at us.

They were counted by a Gordon officer on Moriden's Castle, and the total must have reached nearly 200 before sunset.