its fire toward headquarters at first, and then turning it on a building
which has just been selected for the new Post Office, to be opened when
communications are restored. It had a narrow escape of being blown to
ruins by a shell that entered through the roof and exploded inside.




CHAPTER VII

THE SORTIES OF DECEMBER

Retribution--Sir Archibald Hunter's bold scheme--A night
attack--Silently through the darkness--At the foot of Gun Hill--A
broken ascent--"Wie kom dar?" "The English are on us!"--Major
Henderson thrice wounded--Destroying "Leviathan"--Hussars suffer
under fire--Rejoicings in town--Sir George White's address to the
troops--Boer compliments--A raid for provender--A second
sortie--The Rifles' bold enterprise--An unwelcome light--Cutting
the wires--Surprise Hill reached--The sentry's challenge--The
Rifles' charge--Boer Howitzer destroyed--The return to
camp--Cutting the way home--Serious losses.


This constant shelling of the town could not go on for ever without
some attempt being made to stop it. Mr. Pearse had himself urged
the practicability of capturing or putting out of action at close
quarters the Boer big gun which could not be dealt with by our
shell-fire. This was now to be done. The Creusot gun just mounted
on Gun Hill, which like its neighbours had been given a name and