The men were then directed to lie down between the guns and on the side; sentries and cossack posts were posted on each face. Meantime the Boers had occupied the numerous prospecting trenches and cuttings on the plateau at distances from 400 to 800 yards.
9 p.m.
At 9 p.m. a heavy fire was opened on the bivouac, and a storm of bullets swept over and around us, apparently directed from all sides except the south-west.
The troops were protected by their position on the slope below the level of the plateau, so that the total loss from this fire, which lasted about twenty minutes, was very inconsiderable.
The men behaved with admirable coolness, and were as cheery as possible, although very tired and hungry and without water.
We were then left unmolested for two or three hours.
Midnight.
About midnight another shower of bullets was poured into the camp, but the firing was not kept up for long.
Somewhat later a Maxim gun opened on the bivouac, but failed to get our range.