GRAYLING FISHING UNDER DIFFICULTIES 45 



been lifted for two minutes we could all have got 

 by easily, but the officer in charge said the British 

 Army wanted its beer after the battle, and we 

 must wait till all the casks were up an hour's 

 work at least. He kept us patiently waiting for 

 half-an-hour, and then a glimmering of sense shot 

 through his dull brain, and he did what he might 

 just as well have done at first. 



It certainly is not my intention to describe a 

 battle I did not see ; all I can tell about it from 

 personal observation is that as we drove across 

 the down homeward we met many stragglers, foot- 

 sore, weary, and sad-looking, covered with the 

 white, chalky dust. Hungry and thirsty, they 

 limped along under the hot sun, endeavouring to 

 find their different encampments, spread over the 

 plains and far apart, and doubtless anathematizing 

 the commissariat for leaving them in such a sad 

 plight. How eagerly those of them who were 

 blessed with a few coppers bought the fruit that 

 road vendors had to sell to them, and it was 

 pleasant to see these rich British warriors dis- 

 tribute their purchases among those who had not 

 the wherewithal to buy for themselves. 



When we reached Amesbury we were glad of a 

 wash and brush-up, and we welcomed the pleasant 

 dinner that awaited us. 



That night the constant rumble in the street 

 beneath my bedroom kept me wide awake ; the 

 heavy roll of traction engines, gun-carriages, and 

 munitions of war, the shouts of men and the tramp 



