CHAPTER XVII.
A PAUSE AND A RENEWAL _January 8, 1900._ All was ready to receive another attack, but the Boers made no sign beyond the usual bombardment.

One of the wounded--a Harrismith man--says there is a strong party in favour of peace, men who want to get back to their farms and their families.

We have heard that tale before, but still, here the Boers are fighting for freedom and existence if ever men did.
To-day's bombardment nearly destroyed the tents and dhoolies of our field hospital, but did little else save beheading and mangling some corpses.

The troops were changed about a good deal, half the K.R.R.
being sent to the old Devon post on Helpmakaar road; half the Liverpools to King's Post, and the Rifle Brigade to Waggon Hill.
At night there was a thanksgiving service in the Anglican Church.

I ought to have mentioned earlier that on the night before the attack the Dutch held a solemn supplication, calling on God to bless their efforts.
_January 9, 1900._ One long blank of drenching rain unrelieved by shells, till at sunset a stormy light broke in the west, and a few shots were fired.
_January 10, 1900._ In the night the authorities expected an attack on Observation Hill.
They hurried out two guns of the 69th Battery to a position outside King's Post.