THE SIEGE OF MARABASTADT. l$l 



at Lang's Neck and the complete subjugation of the 

 country. The wildest imagination could hardly have 

 conjured up a picture of the news we ultimately did 

 receive. 



Sunday was always a day of truce. The Boers are 

 stern Calvinists, and, like the people of Scotland, observe 

 Sunday strictly. 



We sent away a mail by a native messenger, who was 

 to convey it to Delagoa Bay ; but what became of that 

 mail I know not, for the letter I wrote never reached its 

 destination. Probably the family matters therein re- 

 ferred to were duly pondered over by the Boer com- 

 mandant and his staff. 



The lull in the artillery fire was only a preparation for 

 a storm in another quarter. One morning we saw that 

 the guns had been removed from the kopje and had 

 been mounted in an intrenchment on the other side, 

 viz., in the direction of the village. The range was 

 about 800 yards, and from the new position the whole 

 fort and outworks were more exposed to fire than they 

 had been from the kopje. 



They made bad practice, however. Occasionally a 

 shot would perforate the houses in the lines, but no men 

 were killed or wounded by the fire. 



A shot went through the canteen one day, but we had 

 surrounded it with sacks full of earth, and as long as we 

 were sitting down below the level of the top of these 

 sacks we were perfectly safe. 



The battery was in a tempting position, and I think 

 our commander contemplated making a sortie by night, 

 and, coming round in rear of it, capturing it at the point 

 of the bayonet. 



The Boers had some idea that we might attempt this, 



