THE MARCH TO THE RENDEZVOUS 109 



from our horse and take measurements, etc., or even 

 go out of our way to see different points. But 

 five minutes' reading of par. 14, § xxiii. of the 

 Manual of Military Engineering, at any odd time, 

 v/ill give us the details, and the just glancing at the 

 bridge as we pass with the afore-mentioned thoughts 

 in our mind will impress them on us. Even if we 

 forget the \ (or the f) T"xB, it is good to think 

 about the job, and make up our minds as to how we 

 should do it, for we never know when we may have 

 to do it, or indeed any other job of the sort, without 

 time to think much and perhaps under fire. Then 

 will this cultivated habit come to our aid. 



We cross the bridge (looking at and measuring 

 •'long Tommy" with our eye), and begin to ascend 

 the opposite slope. Suppose we had got well over 

 the brook, just above that stunted bush, where the 

 take-off was fairly dry and sound, and hounds are 

 running fast up the sloping meadow beyond, where 

 should we jump out, and where have the next 

 fence into the plough ? 



Where, supposing we were commanding a com- 

 pany on outpost, and the ground allotted to us 

 extended from yonder lane to those stacks, should 

 we post our sentries to watch the line of the brook — 

 by day and by night ? Which is the best place for 

 our support ? What is the probable line of the 

 enemy's advance ? and would our line of resistance 

 be on this ridge or the next one ? 



All these things, and many others, which Part 

 VII., "■ Infantry Drill, 1898," will suggest, we can 



