Only The Connection Between The Wire And The Charge Had
Not Been Made.
To make sure, the Boers had also laid several boxes
of dynamite under the last span, in case the mine should fail in
its effect.
The advance guard of the Police, only six in number,
with Nolan-Neylan at their head, threw themselves into a building
which commanded the approaches of the bridge, and this handful of
men opened so spirited and well-aimed a fire that the Boers were
unable to approach it. As fresh scouts and policemen came up they
were thrown into the firing line, and for a whole long day they
kept the destroyers from the bridge. Had the enemy known how weak
they were and how far from supports, they could have easily
destroyed them, but the game of bluff was admirably played, and a
fire kept up which held the enemy to their rifle pits.
The Boers were in a trench commanding the bridge, and their brisk
fire made it impossible to cross. On the other hand, our rifle fire
commanded the mine and prevented any one from exploding it. But at
the approach of darkness it was certain that this would be done.
The situation was saved by the gallantry of young Popham of the
Derbyshires, who crept across with two men and removed the
detonators. There still remained the dynamite under the further
span, and this also they removed, carrying it off across the bridge
under a heavy fire.
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