as the yeomanry prepared to close with the bayonet, the boers on the hill saw that they were being outflanked and asked de villebois-mareuil to withdraw but he flatly refused. he was hoping for a thunderstorm which was coming their way to aid him. the pounding increased the casualties and the boers saw the hopelessness of the situation - they mounted their horses and fought their way out. de villebois-mareuil and the french were left to attempt to make a gallant but futile last stand. the kimberley mounted corps crept up on the right and the rest of the yeomen dismounted and did the same on the left. both sides were close and the british artillery had to be careful when firing in order not to hit their own men. some of the french tried to escape by mounting horses but were all taken down easily in a hail of rifle fire. still the rest refused to surrender. nevertheless, the yeomanry took advantage and moved through the bushes and boulders around the hills. they slowly crept up ever closer, and casualties were light. within a few hours of fighting de villebois-mareuil was killed by a shell and morale sank amongst the volunteers. seeing the panic the yeomanry now only within fifteen yards of the fortified positions fixed bayonets and charged.