The idiots think they fought and thrashed the whole British Army instead of a few hundred men.

Here, Ingleborough, you heard what was said ?" The young man addressed left off chatting with West and nodded.
"You went to Pretoria with the superintendent of police about that diamond case, and you were there a couple of months." "Yes," said Ingleborough.

"What of that ?" "Why, you must have seen a good deal of the Boers then!" "Of course I did." "Well, what do you say?
Will they fight if it comes to a row ?" "Certainly they will!" replied Ingleborough.
There was a derisive laugh at his words, and West flushed a little on hearing it, as the volunteers gathered round.
"Bah! It's all bluff!" cried a voice.

"They know that by holding out they can get what they want.

They'd cave in directly if we showed a bold front." "Moral," said West; "show a bold front." "That's what we're doing," said one of the men; "but there's too much of it.