action at Hooge's Chain,between Laing's Nek and Newcastle, on the banks of the Ingogo, wasfought, with a result as discreditable and damaging to the English armsas that of Laing's Nek had been.
"What has come to our generals and soldiers I cannot think," said Hardyto George, when he encountered him after the battle on the field,whither both had gone to minister to the wounded and dying. "They seemto me absolutely to court defeat. The only comfort is, that they willhardly make a third attempt after two such calamitous failures."
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
It seemed as if Hardy's anticipations were going to be fulfilled. Formore than a fortnight after the disaster on the banks of the Ingogo,both armies remained quietly in their camps, though both were largelyreinforced. Negotiations had been opened with the English Government,which bore every appearance of an amicable solution of difficulties. Onthe afternoon of the 26th of February, Hardy went down to the Britishlines, with a white flag despatched by Joubert with him, to take someletters to George which had arrived from Dykeman's Hollow. It was sometime before he could find his friend, the whole camp being in a state ofextraordinary bustle and confusion. Officers and men were hurryingabout; one of the guns had been brought out, the horses alreadyharnessed, and the gunners and drivers belonging to it were all inreadiness, it appeared, for some immediate movement. Every face boretoken that something of grave importance was about to take place.
"What does this mean, George?" asked Hardy as they shook hands. "SirGeorge Colley cannot anticipate an attack. Everything in the Boer camp,which I have only just left, is quite quiet, and the peace negotiationsare proceeding prosperously."
"I cannot tell you, Hardy, what it does mean," answered George. "I hearvague rumours, but they are not to be trusted. One thing, however, iscertain, and that is that Sir George Colley cannot get over his defeatsby these Boers. I fancy he at first entertained the same contempt forthem which English people generally feel. He thought that they were arace of cowards, who would shoot down helpless savages from a safedistance, but dared not face soldiers in a field of battle."
"We have already agreed that that is a mistake," observed Hardy. "Theirmode of fighting is quite different from ours. They have no disciplinedtroops, as we have; and if they were to face us, as Sir George expects,on a field of battle, must inevitably suffer defeat. But they are braveand resolute men, and fight after their own fashion; which is asdangerous and disastrous to our troops as our mode of lighting would beto them."
"Exactly," said Rivers; "and Sir George has chosen to fight after theirfashion instead of ours, and these disasters have been the consequence.But that does not reconcile him to them. He is afraid that peace willbe made before he has any opportunity of redeeming his militaryreputation, which he thinks has been terribly damaged by Laing's Nek andthe action on the Ingogo. He wants to give them one tremendousthrashing before peace is concluded and the opportunity is lost."
"I can well understand that," said Hardy, "though I think he is quitewrong. But do I understand you to mean that the preparations which Isee going on are for another attack on the Boers? Really I do not thinkthat would be a defensible proceeding. If there has been no formalsuspension of hostilities, there is a tacit understanding to thateffect, which the Boers have most faithfully adhered to."
"I am afraid the preparations do mean that," answered George, "though,of course, I have made no inquiries, nor has any one volunteered theinformation. I think Sir George means to attack the Boer camp again,though probably he will choose a different quarter from which to assailit."
"It is to be hoped he will, at all events," rejoined Hardy, "unless hewishes exactly the same results to follow as before. Well, we shallsoon know what is going to happen, for here come Sir George and hisstaff. They are evidently about to set out somewhere."
"Come to the high ground on the west of the camp," suggested Rivers."You can see the whole road to the Dutch lines from it, and some of thewaggons immediately under Amajuba hill."
"Amajuba hill," repeated Hardy. "Is that the name of that steep hillyonder, with a flattish top, which completely overlooks the camp? Iwonder the Dutch have not occupied it, I must say. Sir George'sposition here wouldn't be tenable if they did. But then, to be sure,they have no cannon. Well, I may as well go with you as you propose,for, of course, if your conjecture is correct, I should not be allowedto leave the English camp."
They took up their position accordingly, and presently saw the troops,seven or eight hundred in number, move out with the gun which Hardy hadseen an hour or two before, the most complete silence being observed.The darkness was already coming on when they set out, and before long itbecame impossible to distinguish any object, except those close at hand.
"Sir George must intend a night attack," said Hardy; "but, independentlyof all other considerations, the Boers are less likely to be thrown intoconfusion by that than our own troops are. They are taught to fightindependently of one another. Every man takes up his own position andshifts for himself. If they are disturbed in the middle of the night,they will simply get up,--ready dressed, for they always lie down intheir clothes,--take their rifles, pick out the securest spot they canfind, and open fire on any enemy they see. Well, George, we had betterstay here awhile and see what comes of this. If night fighting isintended, we shall soon know all about it."
Rivers assented. They were as conveniently placed as they could well befor learning what was going on. There was a hollow in the rock largeenough to shelter them from wind and rain, if either should come on, anda quantity of moss and heather would make a comfortable bed, if they laydown to sleep. They agreed that they would keep alternate watch throughthe night, so that nothing that might occur should escape their notice.
The night, however, passed without disturbance, and when the morningdawned it revealed an unexpected spectacle. The British force wasclearly to be discerned, by the first beams of the sun, stationed on thetop of the Amajuba hill, the ascent of which must have occupied thehours of darkness. It must have been a most difficult and perilousundertaking, and it seemed wonderful that it could have beenaccomplished in the dark, and without arousing the vigilance of theBoers, who were encamped in the immediate vicinity. There they were,however,--the scarlet uniforms forming bright spots against thebackground of rock and sky,--and the brass gun, which, by a marvel ofengineering skill, had been dragged up the precipitous steeps, sparklingin the sun, as it was fixed in its position, commanding the camp of thesleeping Boers below.
"How in the world can they have managed that?" exclaimed Rivers."Nothing but a bird, I should have thought, could get up there. Thegun, of course they must have hoisted up after them. It is a mostdaring exploit; but I suppose Sir George has got the upper hand of themnow."
"I am not so sure of that," rejoined Hardy. "I grant you this is asbold and venturous a feat as ever has been attempted in war. But Idon't know that it will succeed against these Boers. You see, thoughthey have taken possession of the heights, they have not intrenchedthemselves. The broken masses of rock furnish a cover behind whichsharpshooters may hide themselves while they fire on the enemy. But theBoers will be able to fire up at them quite as securely as they will beable to fire down at the Boers. And if the Boers, whose numbers greatlyexceed theirs, clamber up on all sides, under cover of the fire of theirfriends, there is nothing to keep them back. Our men will beoverpowered by weight of numbers. I wish I could see them begin tointrench themselves, but there is no sign of it. I hope we are notgoing to see the Isandhlwana disaster acted over again."
"I suppose they must have been too tired, when they got up there lastnight to throw up intrenchments," remarked George.
"Very likely indeed," returned Hardy, "but they do not appear to be tootired this morning. If they are wise, they will not begin firing untilthey have made their position safe."
Meanwhile on the summit of the hill there was triumph and rejoicing.The soldiers had felt keenly the defeats which they had again and againsustained at t
he hands of an enemy for whom they had entertained atraditional contempt, and who, they were persuaded, if they could oncebring them to a fair encounter, would fly before them. But they hadbeen shot down from behind cover, without the chance being given them ofreturning their adversaries' fire. But here, at last, the tables wereturned. They occupied now the vantage-ground from which the foe mightbe assailed without the risk of suffering retaliation. A genuineBritish cheer broke forth as the gun opened on the slumbering Dutchmenbelow, followed by bursts of merriment as the sleepers started up inalarm and confusion, rushing in all directions to find protection fromthe deadly hail from above. But they did not take to immediate flight,as their assailants had expected.