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e refugees； some of them people I had known in the Transvaal； who came with their tales of woe and ruin； asking for shelter which we were unable to give。 Then； to our dismay； we learned that on the very day of our arrival Colley had moved out to attack the Nek。
Two days later we heard the sound of firing； and getting back to Hilldrop I received the following note from Beaumont； the Resident Magistrate of Newcastle； who was an old friend of mine； now one of the Natal judges。
28_1_81。
I am sorry to say the troops failed this morning in their attack on the “Nek” and had to retire to their waggon laager； after heavy loss。 We have no further particulars。 I do not think that Newcastle is in any danger。 The signal for alarm in town is a bell； but should I think there is any occasion for it I will send out a runner to warn you。 I wish I could give you a wele under better circumstances； but we must make the best of things。 With my kindest regards to Mrs。 Haggard； upon whom I hope Mrs。 Beaumont will soon be able to call 。 。 。 。
W。 H。 Beaumont。
On the following day； January 30； I wrote a letter to my father； which I have just recovered with the others。
You will see from the address that we have reached this in safety after a rather difficult journey owing to the villainous state of the roads。 Old Gibbs shot straight out of the carriage twice but came to no harm。 Louie is well and expressed herself very pleased with the place。 。 。 。 We have e out in very troublous times。 When for various reasons we made up our minds to e up…country； Newcastle was looked upon as one of the safest places in the Colony； owing to the large body of troops concentrated there。 Nobody dreamed that Sir George Colley could be mad enough to try and force the passes with such a handful of men； and I believe he was again and again warned of its impossibility。 However； the day we got here he started； and a few evenings afterwards we heard the guns going on the mountains。 Next came the intelligence that we had met with a crushing repulse。 It appears that the Boers beat the troops back without difficulty； and from what I can judge it will take 5000 men and a great expenditure of life to force their position。 Nearly all the officers actually engaged were killed； including poor young Elwes （Norfolk） whom I sat next to at dinner the other night。 He was talking to me about you； and said that he saw you the other day at Lynn station talking to the barmaid。 It is all very sad。 I do not think that this place is in danger； but still these are anxious times for us all。 Our men have retreated into laager near the top of the mountain； and the Boers are in laager on the top。 When the reinforcements e there will be a fearful engagement and many officers will be picked off。 All the Boers are in rifle pits behind stone walls。 I think they will have to send more troops。
We have got all our things up here safely and have made the place quite pretty； but somehow one can take no pleasure in anything just now with blood being shed like water all round。 Every time one sees a Kaffir runner ing to the house one feels anxious lest he should be the announcer of some fresh evil。 。 。 。 We will send you a longer letter in a mail or two； but just now we are head over ears in work arranging the house； etc。 And now good…bye。 With best love from us both to all at home；
Believe me ever
Your most affectionate and dutiful son；
H。 Rider Haggard。
Such was our house…warming at Hilldrop。
On February 8th about midday once more we heard the guns at work in the neighbourhood of the hill Scheins Hoogte； about eleven miles from our farm。 The firing was very heavy； that of the field…pieces being almost unceasing； as was the crash and roll of the rifles。 At dusk it died away。 Some Kaffirs came to Hilldrop and told us that a force of British soldiers were surrounded on a hill in the Ingogo River； that they were fighting well； but that “their arms were tired。” The Kaffirs added that they would all be killed during the night。
I have told the story of Ingogo in “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours；” and I cannot tell it again； indeed； I have no heart to do so。 It was a miserable and an aimless business； as we heard of it from the lips of the survivors。
After the Ingogo defeat； when the wounded were left lying on the ground through the raging African night； the Boers invaded Natal。 One night； in the stillness； I heard the galloping of a vast number of horses。 Some five hundred of the enemy had taken possession of the next farm to our own； which they looted。 The Boers had descended into Natal； in order to attack the reinforcements。 We colonists saw a chance； a desperate chance it is true； of cutting them off； or at any rate of inflicting great damager upon them。 A number of us congregated at Newcastle with the idea of forming a volunteer corps。 I was very doubtful whether I ought to join； seeing what were my family responsibilities。 I remember my young wife ing out of the house into the garden； where some of us were talking over the matter； and saying； “Don’t consider me。 Do what you think your duty。 I’ll take my chance。”
Never did I admire any woman more than I did her upon that occasion。 In all the circumstances which in her case included the imminent birth of a child； I thought and think her conduct in this matter； and indeed throughout all these troubles； little less than heroic。 But of such stuff is she made。
As it chanced； however； this particular adventure came to nothing。 The authorities got wind of it； and if I recollect right； my friend Beaumont the Magistrate arrived on the scene with a message from the Government at Maritzburg or elsewhere to the effect that our proposed attack on the Boers was forbidden； and that if we insisted on carrying it out we should be repudiated； that our wounded would be left to lie where they fell； and that if the Boers chose to shoot any of us whom they took prisoner no remonstrance would be made； and so forth and so forth。 It was a peculiar errand that he had to perform； but the British lion was a humble animal in those days； its tail was tucked very tightly between its legs。 Also the authorities were naturally anxious to prevent the war from spreading to the civil population。 So our proposed coup came to nothing。
Now followed a period of great alarm。 We were surrounded by the enemy； and from hour to hour never knew on whom or where the blow might fall。 Every night at Hilldrop we placed Kaffirs on the surrounding hills that they might warn us of the approach of the enemy。 Well and faithfully did these men fulfil their duty； indeed； we were kept advised of all that happened through the Zulu natives dwelling on our farm。 Also my old body…servant； Mazooku； had joined me on my return to Africa； and with his friends night and day guarded us as a mother might her child。 Night by night； sometimes in our clothes； we slept with about six horses saddled in the stable； loaded rifles leaning against the beds； and revolvers beneath our pillows。
Next came a rumour； apparently well substantiated； that the expected battle between the invading Boers and the reinforcements was actually to take place on the following day at a drift of the Ingagaan River upon our own farm； Rooipoint。 It was added； probably with truth； that the main body of the Boers intended to occupy my house and the hill behind。 This was too much； so； abandoning everything except our plate； we retreated into laager at Newcastle； and there spent several very unfortable days。 For some reason that never transpired； however； the Boers never delivered the expected attack。 It was the one military mistake that they made； for had they done so I believe they would have cut up the long line of reinforcements； and subsequently have taken the town of Newcastle without much difficulty。 On the contrary； they withdrew to the Nek as silently and swiftly as they had e。
On February 17th the reinforcements marched safely into Newcastle。 General Wood； however； who I think acpanied them； was sent down…country by Colley to bring up more reinforcements and to look after stores； a task which to the lay mind might have been equally well performed by some subordinate officer。 I should add it was said that by mutual agreement of these two generals no further offensive movement was to take place until Wood returned again。
If so； that agreement was not kept； since on Sunday； the 27th of February； I heard the sound of distant guns； which most of the others attributed to thunder。 So certain was I on the point that some of us rode to the camp to make inquiries。 On our way through the town we learned that messages were pouring down the wires from Mount Prospect； and found the place full of rumours。 At the camp； however； nothing was known； indeed； several officers to whom we spoke laughed at us。 It would almost seem as though Colley had undertaken his fatal movement without advising his base。
I cannot tell again the horrible story of Majuba。 Afterwards Colonel Mitchell told me the tale of what was happening at Government House in Maritzburg。 Into the office where I used to sit the messages poured down from Majuba； reporting its occupation and the events which followed as they occurred。 So to speak； Majuba was in that room。 As each wire arrived it was his duty to take it to Lady Colley in another part of the house。 At length came a pause and then a telegram of two words： “Colley dead；” and then — nothing more。
This message too Colonel Mitchel must take to the chamber where the wife sat waiting。 He said that she would not believe it； also that it was the most dreadful moment of his life。
In one of the letters published in Butler’s Life of Colley； he writes to his wife that his good luck was so great and so continuous that it caused him to be afraid。 Not in vain was he afraid； for can anything be more tragic than this man’s history！ One of Wolseley’s darlings； every advancement； every honour was heaped upon him。 At last Fortune offered to him a soldier’s supreme opportunity； and he used it thus！ Had he been content to wait； it was said at the time — and I for one believe — that the Boers would have melted away。 Or； if they did not； he would soon have found himself at the head of a force that might have manded victory。 He would have bee one of the greatest generals in the Empire； and the history of South Africa would have been changed； for it was only defeat that brought about the Retrocession。 But he had theories and he lacked patience。 Or perhaps Destiny drove him on。 In only one thing was it kind to him。 It did not leave him living to contemplate his own ruin and the dishonour of his country。 Peace be to him。
Now I will return； not without relief； to my own story； which is best set out in such letters as have survived。 These remain clear and fixed； about them can gather nothing of the uncertainties or mists of time and memory。
In one written by my wife to my mother from Hilldrop on March 7； 1881； she says：
As you will have seen from the papers； we are not altogether in an enviable position。 The state of affairs out here is really being very serious。 We are told that the troops now in camp at the “Nek” are perfectly panic…stricken by the continual defeats they have sustained； and that in the last engagement； when poor Sir George Colley lost h