Roberts's men sprang from their horses, and with the Burmese and New Zealanders flung themselves down in a skirmish line.

The cavalry moved to the left to find some drift by which the donga could be passed, and out of chaos there came in a few minutes calm and a settled purpose.
It was for Q battery to cover the retreat of the force, and most nobly it did it.

A fortnight later a pile of horses, visible many hundreds of yards off across the plain, showed where the guns had stood.

It was the Colenso of the horse gunners.

In a devilish sleet of lead they stood to their work, loading and firing while a man was left.