Ch. 20: The Mines Besieged

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	THE MINES BESIEGED	299

	time of the funeral, and doubtless signalled from some elevated place to the besiegers at Kampfersdam the moment the procession started. There was a sigh of relief as the fearful shell passed over the heads of the multitude, and fell harmless in vacant land behind the hospital. Colonel Kekewich gave orders for the band to cease playing, and that all carriage lights be put out. It was a grim and silent funeral. Shot after shot came thundering over into the town, as the procession passed through it. At last, as we approached the cemetery, we could see the flash of the gun as it was fired.



	While the last rites were said, the voice of the venerable archdeacon was drowned by the roar of the gun and the hissing of the shells. When the ceremony was over, every one hastened home to seek whatever cover could be found. Crowds of people were massed for hours behind flimsy walls, which could not protect them, but even this slight pretence of shelter was comforting. The terrible night of the 10th of February, 1900, will never be effaced from the memories of those who passed through it. So great was the strain upon the nerves of the people that it was necessary that some one should come to their help, and as usual that " some one " was Rhodes. Early on Sunday morn-

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