84 COSHAM 



his place by the side of my friend ; to this I readily 

 assented, and aided by a heavier weight and a 

 stronger nerve, wliich his confidence as a rough rider 

 gave him, he took the mare safe to her owner's stables. 



He was also of a gay and convivial disposition, and onr 

 inspections and field-days on Portsdown Hill were some- 

 times wound up with a good feed, and an evening devoted 

 to a rather tumultuary sacrifice to Bacchus. But this 

 would only happen when we dined en troupe ; on other 

 occasions, after being dismissed, we would ride home 

 together in small parties, each selecting his o"\\m fancy 

 " Public " on the road for refreshment or enjoyment. 

 Generally I found myself side by side with this sergeant- 

 major, for he was a congenial spirit, and we were 

 associates in many a pleasurable gathering in the Isle 

 of Wight — always a favourite spot of mine, in consequence 

 of the genuine hospitality I received from many of its 

 inhabitants — where business and pleasure frequently led 

 my friend. One day after drill, Ave took our chop at the 

 principal house in the village of Cosham, substituting 

 brandy-and-water for the more genteel and customary 

 bottle of old port. This was a beverage I was then but 

 little acquainted with ; however, we mounted at dusk, to 

 ride gently and quietly home. 



We had proceeded in friendly chat uninterrupted about 

 half way, when I heard the sound of music ; and as we 

 approached the house or inn from which the dulcet notes 

 proceeded, Ave discerned by the lights a large party of 

 both sexes tripping it on the light fantastic toe, in a 

 lofty room in rear of, and partly OA'er the bar, the access 

 to Avhich Avas by Avooden steps from the road. Without 



