This strong post was a thousand feet higher than the camp.

Below lay the main body of the force, two more companies of fusiliers, four of Yorkshire Light Infantry, the 2nd Mounted Infantry, Kitchener's Horse, yeomanry, and the artillery.

The latter consisted of one heavy naval gun, four guns of the 8th R.F.A., and P battery R.H.A.The whole force amounted to about fifteen hundred men.
It was just at the first break of dawn--the hour of fate in South African warfare--that the battle began.

The mounted infantry post between the camp and the mountains were aware of moving figures in front of them.

In the dim light they could discern that they were clothed in grey, and that they wore the broad-brimmed hats and feathers of some of our own irregular corps.