Chapter 8

AFTER COLENSO

The Town-Guard called out--Echoes of Colenso--Heliograms from Buller--The Boers and Dingaan's Day--Disappointing news--Special correspondents summoned--Victims of the bombardment--Shaving under shell fire--Tea with Lord Ava--Boer humour: "Where is Buller?"--Sir George White's narrow escape--A disastrous shot-- Fiftieth day of the siege--Grave and gay--"What does England think of us?"--Stoical artillerymen--The moral courage of caution--How Doctor Stark was killed--Serious thoughts--Gordons at play--Boers watch the match--A story by the way--"My name is Viljoen"--How Major King won his liberty--A tribute to Boer hospitality--"We rely on your Generals"--General White and Schalk-Burger--A coward chastised--"Sticking it out" 128