The Population Had Assembled To Watch The Mighty Cloud Of Dust
Which Rolled Along The South-Eastern Horizon.
What was it which
swept westwards within its reddish heart?
Hopeful and yet fearful
they saw the huge bank draw nearer and nearer. An assault from the
whole of Cronje's army was the thought which passed through many a
mind. And then the dust-cloud thinned, a mighty host of horsemen
spurred out from it, and in the extended far-flung ranks the glint
of spearheads and the gleam of scabbards told of the Hussars and
Lancers, while denser banks on either flank marked the position of
the whirling guns. Wearied and spent with a hundred miles' ride the
dusty riders and the panting, dripping horses took fresh heart as
they saw the broad city before them, and swept with martial rattle
and jingle towards the cheering crowds. Amid shouts and tears
French rode into Kimberley while his troopers encamped outside the
town.
To know how this bolt was prepared and how launched, the narrative
must go back to the beginning of the month. At that period Methuen
and his men were still faced by Cronje and his entrenched forces,
who, in spite of occasional bombardments, held their position
between Kimberley and the relieving army. French, having handed
over the operations at Colesberg to Clements, had gone down to Cape
Town to confer with Roberts and Kitchener. Thence they all three
made their way to the Modder River, which was evidently about to be
the base of a more largely conceived series of operations than any
which had yet been undertaken.
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