12 SPORTING AND 



the dreadful journey was over, and that we 

 were safe at home again. 



This sort of life lasted till I was sixteen 

 years old, when it was decided upon, that 

 I was destined for the army ; my uncle, 

 who was a general, applied to the autho- 

 rities at the Horse Guards on my behalf, 

 and I soon obtained a commission in the 

 th Regiment of foot. In due course I 

 was ordered to join the depot at Chatham ; 

 but I was not left long in peace there, for 

 an order came from the Adjutant- General 

 for a large draft to be prepared for India, 

 and I was among one of the (.as we then 

 thought) unlucky ones included in the 

 draft for immediate embarcation. 



As the time drew nigh for sailing, my 

 feelings underwent a complete change ; 

 instead of disliking the idea of going to 

 the gorgeous East, I was enchanted at the 



