THE SIEGE OF MARABASTADT. 139 



The left arm was the canteen, and the work occupied 

 by the detachment of police was the right arm. Thus 

 the outlying works were all covered by the fire from the 

 fort. One of the huts in the lines was utilised as a 

 hospital. 



For several days our time was fully occupied in 

 intrenching, sandbagging, setting wire entanglements, 

 cutting sub-ways, etc., etc. 



One day while we were working away Brooke walked 

 round to see how we were getting on. After he passed, 

 a man observed : " He don't look 'appy ". 



" Why not ? " asked another. 



" He's afraid the enemy won't attack him and that 

 he will have all this trouble for nothink." 



However, our gallant commander's hopes of strife 

 were destined to be shortly realised. He was just the 

 very man to command us. A force which by the nature 

 of things has to stand on the defensive is more liable 

 to depression of spirits than a force which can expend 

 its energies by going in search of the enemy ; and our 

 commander's cheery disposition had an excellent effect 

 upon everybody. 



When there was, so to say, a half-holiday, he would 

 get up a cricket match, or tilting on horseback with 

 brooms instead of lances. 



The canteen was the most tranquil scene of content- 

 ment in our disturbed country, for there a daily issue 

 of spirits was made, and over the counter drinks could 

 be obtained for coin of the realm. The volunteers (as is 

 only right under the circumstances) drank both in civil 

 and military capacity. They absorbed quite twice as much 

 per head as did the troops, and were proportionately 

 happy. Moreover, we dwelt in full view of the wine, 



