Back to the Front 



recreation being a gallop on my mule to and fro 

 between my quarters and the orderly room. 



I did not omit to pay a visit to my friend the 

 doctor, who extracted the worst offender among my 

 mutinous teeth, and thereby afforded me temporary 

 relief. 



My work completed, I had to undertake the 

 return journey. Having with me a detachment of 

 forty to fifty " askaris " (soldiers), I allowed myself an 

 extra day, making four and a half in all, to get back 

 in. But the rains were so excessive that even this 

 entailed the most exhausting forced marches, and I 

 was very glad to see the camp at Kigezi again. 

 The pretty camp at Kumba, at the confluence of 

 numerous rivers and mountain streams, was as 

 picturesque as usual. The rivers were choked with 

 reeds and bushes, which at this time of year were of 

 a violet hue, contrasting finely with the green of the 

 mountain sides through which the streams cut their 

 way. I stayed a night at this camp, and enjoyed it 

 very much, but I was very tired, and as I watched 

 the sun setting behind the bulging cumulus clouds I 

 fell into a doze and lost myself in the past, dreaming 

 I was still a gay and giddy subaltern stationed with 

 my regiment at Southsea, and that I was dancing 

 once more to the tune of the "Merry Widow" 

 waltz. But I soon awoke to the cold reality of my 

 present position, and turned in early to be ready on 

 the morrow for the last lap of my forced marches, 

 which was the sternest and most difficult of them all. 



Some amazement was expressed at my speedy 

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