And we were unable to bring our field-pieces any nearer because our gunners would have been exposed to the enemy's rifle fire.
Our Krupps made good practice on the four English guns which had been stationed on the river bank to the south.

Up till now these had kept up a terrific fire on our guns, but we soon drove them across the river, to seek protection behind the mountain.

I despatched General Froneman to hold the river bank, and the _sluit_[17] which descended to the river from the north.

While carrying out this order he was exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy's western wing, which was located in the above-mentioned ravine, but he succeeded in reaching the river under cover of the guns.

Once there, the enemy's artillery made it impossible for him to move.
And now a curious incident occurred! A falcon, hovering over the heads of our burghers in the _sluit_, was hit by a bullet from one of the shrapnel shells and fell dead to the ground in the midst of the men.