The wearied garrison crept through their duties, hungry and gaunt as ghosts.
There was no heliograph to cheer us up, and hardly a sound of distant guns.

The rumour had got abroad that we were to be left to our fate, whilst Roberts, with the main column, diverted all England's thoughts to Bloemfontein.

Like one man we lost our spirits, our hopes, and our tempers.
The depression probably arose from the reduction of rations which I mentioned yesterday.

The remaining food has been organised to last another forty-two days, and it is, of course, assumed we shall have to use it all, whereas the new arrangement is only a precaution.

Colonel Ward and Colonel Stoneman are not to be caught off their guard.