CHAPTER XIX.
HOPE DEFERRED _January 29, 1900._ The only change to-day was the steady passage of Boers westward, to concentrate afresh round Taba Nyama.

Their new laager up the Long Valley had disappeared.

Large bodies of men had been seen coming up from Colenso.

The crisis of the war in Natal is evidently near.

Meantime Kaffir deserters brought in a lot of chatter about the recent fighting.
On one point they generally agreed--that Kruger himself was with his men.