"They are Boers, and we've got them between our men and our battery," said a Gordon officer.

But I knew his hope was a vain one.

Very slowly they were coming towards us--turning and firing and advancing a little, one by one--but still coming towards us, till at last they began to dribble through the intervals in our batteries.

Then we knew it was British infantry retiring--a terrible sight, no matter how small the loss or how wise the order given.

Chiefly they were the 60th (K.R.R.) and the Leicesters.