six o'clock
The morning was gray and misty , and the clouds hung heavily on the hilltop . As these cleared off slowly , it could be seen that the position was less favourable than it had seemed , for the flat crest extended some distance beyond the point they had entrenched , and from the rocks and low ridges a hot fire broke out . Before the mist cleared off , the Boers had crept up in considerable force , and were , it was evident , preparing to retake the position that had been wrested from them . By six o'clock the scattered fire had grown into a continuous roar , the Boers occupying not only the nek itself , but the flanks of the hill . Several times our men made rushes to endeavour to clear off the foe , but these proved too costly , and they were now lying or kneeling behind the unfinished barricade . In a very short time the clouds had lifted sufficiently for the Boer artillery to discover the exact position , and from the hills on three sides a terrible fire of shot and shell , from cannon great and small and machine-guns , rained upon them . Again and again parties of men started to their feet and dashed forward to drive the hidden Boers facing them from their hiding-places .