Some of the correspondents brought out a local paper, the _Ladysmith Lyre_, to enliven the spirits of the dull and timid and sick. The news may be sampled by the following extracts:
“_November 14._--General French has twice been seen in Ladysmith disguised as a Kaffir. His force is entrenched behind Bulwen. Hurrah!
“_November 20._--H.M.S. _Powerful_ ran aground in attempting to come up Klip River; feared total loss. [Klip River is 2 feet deep in parts.]
“_November 21._--We hear on good authority that the gunner of Long Tom is Dreyfus.
“_November 26._--Boers broke Sabbath firing on our bathing parties. Believed so infuriated by sight of people washing that they quite forgot it was Sunday.”
The _Ladysmith Lyre_ had come out three times before December.
On the 7th of December, at 10 p.m., 400 men, who had volunteered for the task, were ordered to turn out, carrying rifles and revolvers only, and to make no noise. A small party of Engineers were to be with them. Their object was to destroy Long Tom, which was now removed from Pepworth to Lombard’s Kop, on the north-east. They started when the moon went down on a fine starlight night. By a quarter to two a.m. they were close to the foot of Lombard’s Kop, but the Boer pickets had not been alarmed. General Hunter, who led them, explained how 100 of the Imperial Light Horse and 100 of the Carbineers would steal up the mountain and take the Boer guns, while 200 of the Border Mounted (on foot) would go round the hill to protect their comrades from a flank attack. The Engineers, carrying gun-cotton and tools, followed close after the storming party. As our men were creeping quietly up the hill on hands and knees, amazed that there were no outposts, a sudden challenge rang out behind them: “Wis kom dar?”
Had the Boer sentry been dreaming in the drowsy night?
“Wis (pronounced ve) kom dar? Wis kom dar?” he impatiently shouted. Our men sat down on the slope above him, grinning to themselves, and made no answer.
“Wis kom dar?” He was getting angry and frightened this time, by the tone of it.
“Take that fellow in the wind with the butt of a rifle, and stop his mouth.”
Then the Boer knew who they were, and yelled to his comrades for help; then they heard him say to his after-rider: “Bring my peart--my horse!” and he was safely off!
