The ground was too rocky for
digging, and the stones that were scattered thickly about were used for
the purpose; but long before the breastwork could be completed a
dropping fire was opened by the enemy. The morning was gray and misty,
and the clouds hung heavily on the hilltop. As these cleared off slowly,
it could be seen that the position was less favourable than it had
seemed, for the flat crest extended some distance beyond the point they
had entrenched, and from the rocks and low ridges a hot fire broke out.
Before the mist cleared off, the Boers had crept up in considerable
force, and were, it was evident, preparing to retake the position that
had been wrested from them.
By six o'clock the scattered fire had grown into a continuous roar, the
Boers occupying not only the nek itself, but the flanks of the hill.
Several times our men made rushes to endeavour to clear off the foe, but
these proved too costly, and they were now lying or kneeling behind the
unfinished barricade. In a very short time the clouds had lifted
sufficiently for the Boer artillery to discover the exact position, and
from the hills on three sides a terrible fire of shot and shell, from
cannon great and small and machine-guns, rained upon them.
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