232 



WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



marches. General Michel was fond of shooting, and when 

 within a few miles of the halting grounds he and I generally 

 left the column and rode away across the country in search 

 of some lake or swamp where we might find wild ducks. 

 These were very plentiful. Our guns were carried hy men 

 in rear of the column, mounted on riding dromedaries, who 

 could keep up with our horses at a canter. We usually 

 joined the camp in the forenoon, and always had a good bag 

 of ducks to share with our friends. 



Throughout this march I lived in a small tent twelve feet 

 square, known as a " pal." In shape it closely resembled the 

 ordinary cottage of Scotland, having a ridge and two gable ends, 

 in one of which was the door. The side walls were only four 

 feet in height. It was supported by a long stick under the 

 ridge, resting on two poles at the ends. This tent was simply 

 a large bag, and could be struck or pitched in a few minutes. 

 Its principal fault was want of rigidity in high wind, but this 

 was counterbalanced by its portability. Here the various 

 members of the staff camp assembled nightly after dining in 

 their own tents, and honoured me with their company till 

 bed-time. The General lay extended on my bed, his Aide- 

 de-camp reposed in my arm-chair, while round the table in 

 chairs, and ranged along the edge of the bed, sat the Assistant 

 Adjutant-General, Assistant Quartermaster-General, Brigade- 

 Major, Postmaster, Commandant of Artillery, Inspector- 

 General of Hospitals, and any friends who had dined with 

 them. The weather was sufficiently cold to enable us to ap- 

 preciate a tumbler of hot whisky-toddy, and we spent our 

 evenings very pleasantly, notwithstanding the certainty that 

 sorrow would return long before the dawning of morn, and 

 that at 2 A.M. " the general " would sound, to be too surely 

 followed by the " assembly " at 3. 



