66 



HORSE, FOOT, AND DRAGOONS. 



NO BATHhN'q 



THi55JD£or 



THJ5 POST 



companions on the smooth waters of 

 the canal, now in disuse, is a pleas- 

 ure not soon to be forgotten. Glid- 

 ing between its pretty banks, with 

 their overhanging fringe of bushes 

 and beds of water- weeds, one would 

 scarcely realize that one is really in 

 the midst of a vast camp, with all 

 its busy bustle of military life, were 

 it not for the occasional red -coat 

 asleep in the shade of some group of 

 trees, or idly angling in the still, calm 

 waters. Once, too, we pass a sign- 

 post, officially warning that there is 

 " no bathing allowed this side of this 

 post," although, as the post stands 

 entirely alone, without any landmark 

 near it, one is puzzled to know what 



' ~^-^ - side "this side" means; and it is 



easy to imagine Tommys perplexity 

 as, towel in hand, he meditatively scratched the back of his 

 head when he read the order for the first time. However, he 

 has evidently solved the problem, for farther on we pass a 

 group disporting in the water, and the scarlet coats hanging 

 on the trees, over the other heaps of clothing scattered about, 

 demonstrate plainly enough that it is composed of soldiers. 

 If they are guilty of any slight breach of discipline it is not 

 noticed by my companions, they realizing, no doubt, that the 

 weather is hot, and that Tommy has the true John Bull love 

 for cold water — as an element to bathe in — as well as his 

 superiors. 



There are miles of pretty walks about Aldershot, through 



