The thing could only have one end, however, and Lord Roberts, with admirable judgment and patience, refused to hurry it at the expense of the lives of his soldiers.
The two brigades at either end of the Boer lines had lost no chance of pushing in, and now they had come within striking distance.

On the night of February 26th it was determined that Smith-Dorrien's men should try their luck.

The front trenches of the British were at that time seven hundred yards from the Boer lines.

They were held by the Gordons and by the Canadians, the latter being the nearer to the river.

It is worth while entering into details as to the arrangement of the attack, as the success of the campaign was at least accelerated by it.