THE MARCH TO THE RENDEZVOUS 99 



hunting, and, indeed, all things for which leave is 

 required, is a privilege, and not a right, and who 

 can, therefore, have comparatively little of it, do get 

 more value out of each of their one or two days a 

 week when with their regiments, and their three, 

 four, five, or six days (according to the state of the 

 treasury chest) when on leave, than does the man 

 who can hunt every day in the week all the season 

 through. The latter does not know the delicious 

 sense of freedom, of a school-boy out for a holiday, 

 in fact, which seems to be in the air as one rides out 

 the barrack-gate with two or three brother Officers, 

 who are to be one's companions in the pleasures of 

 " the image," as every keen soldier hopes that they 

 may some day be in the serious business of the 

 Real. 



With this feehng in the heart, a good horse 

 between the legs, and the musical rhythm of his one, 

 two, three, four, on the road, or his squelsh, squelsh, 

 squelsh, squelsh ! in the soft ground, or on the grass 

 at the side of it, in the ear, a man could not be in 

 better form for learning in that best and most 

 delightful of ways — by observation. The March 

 has begun ! let us ride along together, mile by mile, 

 keeping our eyes open all the time. 



Of course, we have the map, which has been 

 studied the night before, with us, and we have a 

 wristlet for our watch, which has also a compass on 

 it. Worn thus, both can be seen at a glance, 

 without attracting attention. This last may be of 

 importance on a "jumpy" job on service, when 



