MILITARY AD VENTURES. 57 



the " bon vivans" in our camp. I don't 

 know what we should have done with our- 

 selves had it not been for our shooting, 

 for the mere detail of mounting main 

 guard, and seeing after the outlying 

 picquets was most monotonous work. We 

 were also cut off from all intercourse with 

 the outer world so thoroughly, that we 

 hardly ever received a letter ; indeed, till 

 the commander in chiefs dispatch came 

 in, we had not received a single chit (as 

 we call letters in India) since entering 

 the enemy's country. 



The arrival of this dispatch, and our 

 private letters with it, diffused general joy 

 throughout the camp ; and everyone from 

 from being dull and discontented suddenly 

 became alert and joyous. This was 

 greatly caused by the orders we had 

 received. The war was to be prosecuted 



