'Wait a bit,' said Du Toit; 'I will lay your plan before the council of war to-morrow.'
In vain the Colonel tells him that the success of the plan depends on its immediate execution. He can get no answer. The evening is wasted.
General du Toit is a big, bronzed man, with a black pointed beard and a straight and penetrating gaze. Though very brave personally, he has never dared to engage his men.
The latter are very well pleased with their role of besiegers. They will appreciate it less when the _Long Cecil_ comes upon the scene. Hitherto, the long _far niente_, comparatively free from peril--the town, under the command of Colonel Kekewich, was defended by such a small garrison that _sorties_ were impossible--has only been broken by the singing of hymns, the brewing of coffee and cocoa, and the occasional pursuit of a springbock.
Every evening a guard, composed, I fancy, of anyone who chose to go, went off, provided with a comfortable stock of bedding, to do duty round the camp.
Others, the valiant spirits, remained at the three batteries where were installed _Long Tom_, the three Armstrongs, and the Maxim.
_Long Tom's_ battery was by far the most popular, for several reasons. In the first place, its processes were much more interesting than those of the small guns; then, its defenders were much more sheltered, owing to the proximity of the mining works; and finally, a good many former miners were always on the look-out for a stray diamond or two.
Among the besiegers of Kimberley, indeed, we met with a good many adventurers who took no other part in the campaign.
Men of all nationalities, many of them familiar with the town, having worked in the mines here, they came in the hope of finding some diamond overlooked in the sudden cessation of mining operations.... Then, too, they knew that Cecil Rhodes was in the town, having had no time to fly or to carry off his treasure.
Then, again, there are bankers and jewellers in Kimberley, and if the Boers had taken the town....
It appears that Cecil Rhodes was quite aware of this danger, and I have heard that he attempted to manufacture a balloon which was to have carried 'Cecil and his fortunes' to a safer city.
In any case, his gratitude to his defenders was very lively. And, in addition to other liberalities, he presented a commemorative medal to them all.