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284 THE DIAMOND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA
spelled
out, " Please inform the Remount Department, Wynberg, the number marked
on the hoof of horse issued to Surgeon O'Gorman of the Kimberley
Garrison."
Imagine
the disappointment upon receiving this seemingly frivolous message
after the long ten weeks' investment. It was later reported that this
communication was simply a test to ascertain whether the signals were
passing between friends or enemies.
On December nth Lord Methuen met with his first reverse in his march to Kimberley, where he was defeated by Cronje.
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I
watched this battle from the conning tower, but, as the distance was
about sixteen miles, one could see only the bursting of the shells, the
big yellow cloud when a Lyddite shell exploded, and the captive balloon
giving information as to the position of the Boers. One could hear the
roar of the cannon, which sounded like the breaking of the sea against
a cliff. We waited anxiously for news of the battle, but for days none
came. The suspense was the more racking from the spread of the report
that, as soon as Lord Methuen arrived, there would be an enforced
exodus of all the women and children and male non-combatants from
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