THE MARCH TO THE RENDEZVOUS 103 



just come, and then the taking of a wrong turn may 

 mean being late in taking back information, being 

 late with an order, or it may even mean being cut 

 off or caught in a cul-de-sac by the enemy's lancers ! 



Another habit which should] be cultivated is that 

 of knowing approximately, without reference to 

 compass or map, in which direction we are going. 

 This habit may enable him who cultivates it to 

 afterwards trace the course of a run with hounds, or 

 the movements of troops on the map fairly accurately 

 by the following process — " We ran (or we marched) 

 for ten minutes about north-west, then swung half- 

 right and ran five minutes west, etc." 



There are so many things to be looked at during 

 the march, and so much to be learnt from them, 

 both from a soldier's and sportsman's point of view, 

 that it is difficult to know exactly where to begin, 

 and more difficult still not to jumble them up. 

 Perhaps, therefore, it will be best to take a piece 

 of road as if from a map, and consider the physical 

 features of the country as we come to them. 



We have cleared the town, and the country begins 

 to open out, so that we can see the fields and the 

 fences. Have we grass or arable, flying fences, or 

 banks which will have to be negotiated on the "on 

 and off" principle, and have they ditches on one or 

 both sides ? What sort of obstacles do they offer 

 for Cavalry, Infantry, or Guns, and do they give 

 cover from view only, or from fire, or from both ? 

 Are there bridle-roads and gates, and are all of the 

 former shown on the map ? The nature of the soil, 



