第31部分(第2/7 頁)

s　with　such　a　handful　of　men；　and　I　believe　he　was　again　and　again　warned　of　its　impossibility。　However；　the　day　we　got　here　he　started；　and　a　few　evenings　afterwards　we　heard　the　guns　going　on　the　mountains。　Next　came　the　intelligence　that　we　had　met　with　a　crushing　repulse。　It　appears　that　the　Boers　beat　the　troops　back　without　difficulty；　and　from　what　I　can　judge　it　will　take　5000　men　and　a　great　expenditure　of　life　to　force　their　position。　Nearly　all　the　officers　actually　engaged　were　killed；　including　poor　young　Elwes　（Norfolk）　whom　I　sat　next　to　at　dinner　the　other　night。　He　was　talking　to　me　about　you；　and　said　that　he　saw　you　the　other　day　at　Lynn　station　talking　to　the　barmaid。　It　is　all　very　sad。　I　do　not　think　that　this　place　is　in　danger；　but　still　these　are　anxious　times　for　us　all。　Our　men　have　retreated　into　laager　near　the　top　of　the　mountain；　and　the　Boers　are　in　laager　on　the　top。　When　the　reinforcements　e　there　will　be　a　fearful　engagement　and　many　officers　will　be　picked　off。　All　the　Boers　are　in　rifle　pits　behind　stone　walls。　I　think　they　will　have　to　send　more　troops。

We　have　got　all　our　things　up　here　safely　and　have　made　the　place　quite　pretty；　but　somehow　one　can　take　no　pleasure　in　anything　just　now　with　blood　being　shed　like　water　all　round。　Every　time　one　sees　a　Kaffir　runner　ing　to　the　house　one　feels　anxious　lest　he　should　be　the　announcer　of　some　fresh　evil。　。　。　。　We　will　send　you　a　longer　letter　in　a　mail　or　two；　but　just　now　we　are　head　over　ears　in　work　arranging　the　house；　etc。　And　now　good…bye。　With　best　love　from　us　both　to　all　at　home；

Believe　me　ever

Your　most　affectionate　and　dutiful　son；

H。　Rider　Haggard。

Such　was　our　house…warming　at　Hilldrop。

On　February　8th　about　midday　once　more　we　h