按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
As we passed we saw the Connaughts looking at the graves of their comrades
of twenty years ago。 The Battery rode at attention and gave 〃Eyes right〃：
the first time for twenty years that the roll of a British gun has broken in
on the silence of those unnamed graves。
We were inspected by Lord Roberts。 The battery turned out very smart；
and Lord Roberts complimented the Major on its appearance。
He then inspected； and afterwards asked to have the officers called out。
We were presented to him in turn； he spoke a few words to each of us；
asking what our corps and service had been。 He seemed surprised
that we were all Field Artillery men； but probably the composition
of the other Canadian units had to do with this。 He asked
a good many questions about the horses； the men； and particularly about
the spirits of the men。 Altogether he showed a very kind interest
in the battery。
At nine took the Presbyterian parade to the lines； the first
Presbyterian service since we left Canada。 We had the right；
the Gordons and the Royal Scots next。 The music was excellent；
led by the brass band of the Royal Scots； which played extremely well。
All the singing was from the psalms and paraphrases： 〃Old Hundred〃
and 〃Duke Street〃 among them。 It was very pleasant to hear the old reliables
once more。 〃McCrae's Covenanters〃 some of the officers called us；
but I should not like to set our conduct up against the standard
of those austere men。
At Lyndenburg：
The Boers opened on us at about 10；000 yards； the fire being accurate
from the first。 They shelled us till dark； over three hours。
The guns on our left fired for a long time on Buller's camp；
the ones on our right on us。 We could see the smoke and flash；
then there was a soul…consuming interval of 20 to 30 seconds
when we would hear the report； and about five seconds later the burst。
Many in succession burst over and all around us。 I picked up pieces
which fell within a few feet。 It was a trying afternoon；
and we stood around wondering。 We moved the horses back；
and took cover under the wagons。 We were thankful when the sun went down；
especially as for the last hour of daylight they turned all their guns on us。
The casualties were few。
The next morning a heavy mist prevented the enemy from firing。
The division marched out at 7。30 A。M。 The attack was made in three columns：
cavalry brigade on the left； Buller's troops in the centre； Hamilton's on
the right。 The Canadian artillery were with Hamilton's division。
The approach to the hill was exposed everywhere except where some cover
was afforded by ridges。 We marched out as support to the Gordons；
the cavalry and the Royal Horse Artillery going out to our right
as a flank guard。 While we were waiting three 100…pound shells
struck the top of the ridge in succession about 50 to 75 yards in front
of the battery line。 We began to feel rather shaky。
On looking over the field at this time one could not tell
that anything was occurring except for the long range guns replying
to the fire from the hill。 The enemy had opened fire as soon as our advance
was pushed out。 With a glass one could distinguish the infantry pushing up
in lines； five or six in succession； the men being some yards apart。
Then came a long pause； broken only by the big guns。 At last we got the order
to advance just as the big guns of the enemy stopped their fire。
We advanced about four miles mostly up the slope； which is in all
about 1500 feet high； over a great deal of rough ground
and over a number of spruits。 The horses were put to their utmost
to draw the guns up the hills。 As we advanced we could see artillery
crawling in from both flanks； all converging to the main hill； while far away
the infantry and cavalry were beginning to crown the heights near us。
Then the field guns and the pompoms began to play。 As the field guns
came up to a broad plateau section after section came into action；
and we fired shrapnel and lyddite on the crests ahead and to the left。
Every now and then a rattle of Mausers and Metfords would tell us
that the infantry were at their work； but practically the battle was over。
From being an infantry attack as expected it was the gunners' day；
and the artillery seemed to do excellent work。
General Buller pushed up the hill as the guns were at work；
and afterwards General Hamilton； the one as grim as his pictures；
the other looking very happy。 The wind blew through us cold like ice
as we stood on the hill； as the artillery ceased fire the mist dropped over us
chilling us to the bone。 We were afraid we should have to spend the night
on the hill； but a welcome order came sending us back to camp；
a distance of five miles by the roads； as Buller would hold the hill；
and our force must march south。 Our front was over eight miles wide
and the objective 1500 feet higher than our camp； and over six miles away。
If the enemy had had the nerve to stand； the position could scarcely
have been taken； certainly not without the loss of thousands。
For this campaign he received the Queen's Medal with three clasps。
VI
Children and Animals
Through all his life； and through all his letters； dogs and children
followed him as shadows follow men。 To walk in the streets with him
was a slow procession。 Every dog and every child one met must be spoken to；
and each made answer。 Throughout the later letters the names
Bonfire and Bonneau occur continually。 Bonfire was his horse；
and Bonneau his dog。
This horse； an Irish hunter； was given to him by John L。 Todd。
It was wounded twice； and now lives in honourable retirement
at a secret place which need not be disclosed to the army authorities。
One officer who had visited the hospital writes of seeing him
going about the wards with Bonneau and a small French child following after。
In memory of his love for animals and children the following extracts
will serve：
You ask if the wee fellow has a name Mike； mostly； as a term of affection。
He has found a cupboard in one ward in which oakum is stored；
and he loves to steal in there and 〃pick oakum〃； amusing himself
as long as is permitted。 I hold that this indicates convict ancestry
to which Mike makes no defence。
The family is very well； even one…eyed Mike is able to go round the yard
in his dressing…gown； so to speak。 He is a queer pathetic little beast
and Madame has him 〃hospitalized〃 on the bottom shelf of the sideboard
in the living room； whence he comes down （six inches to the floor）
to greet me； and then gravely hirples back； the hind legs looking
very pathetic as he hops in。 But he is full of spirit and is doing very well。
As to the animals 〃those poor voiceless creatures；〃 say you。 I wish
you could hear them。 Bonneau and Mike are a perfect Dignity and Impudence；
and both vocal to a wonderful degree。 Mike's face is exactly like the terrier
in the old picture； and he sits up and gives his paw just like Bonneau；
and I never saw him have any instruction； and as for voice；
I wish you could hear Bonfire's 〃whicker〃 to me in the stable or elsewhere。
It is all but talk。 There is one ward door that he