Chapter 9

A CHRISTMAS UNDER SIEGE

Husbanding supplies--Colonel Ward's fine work--Our Christmas market--A scanty show--Some startling prices--A word to cynics-- The compounding of plum-puddings--The strict rules of temperance--Boer greetings "per shell"--A lady's narrow escape-- Correspondents provide sport--"Ginger" and the mules--The sick and wounded--Some kindly gifts--Christmas tree for the children-- Sir George White and the little ones--"When the war is over"--Some empty rumours--A fickle climate--Eight officers killed and wounded--More messages from Buller--Booming the old year out 155