We heard last week how General Methuen had been roundly defeated at the battle of Magersfontein in the Northern Cape and had withdrawn his force back to the Modder River. North east across South Africa and in the province of Natal, the commander of the British troops Sir Redvers Buller was preparing to face his own sword of damocles.

The second terrible battle of black week was about to break upon the shores of the British Empire Colenso. And Mahatma Gandhi makes an appearance.