122 PINK AND SCARLET 



our shooting line if we had to defend it, and what 

 demolitions would be necessary to give a fair field 

 of fire. Riding through, thoughts would naturally 

 arise about second and third lines, communications, 

 barricades, best place for the garrison during a 

 cannonade, and a host of other things which the 

 text-books will suggest. 



Another point of view from which the village 

 may be regarded is that of accommodation. The 

 details of how an estimate of the amount of accom- 

 modation available for troops may be arrived at are 

 given in the Text-Book of Military Topography, 

 1 89 1, Part I., and it is no use to repeat them ; but 

 it is good to get into the habit of running the eye 

 over houses with soldiering in the mind, just as it 

 is over the country, cattle, sheep, stack-yards, etc. 



To consider roughly how the village may be 

 allotted to regiments or detachments, where their 

 alarm posts would be, and where they would get 

 their water, are also useful things. 



It js not of course intended to convey the im- 

 pression that it is possible to work out a billeting 

 scheme on the way to the meet ! It is only intended 

 to show how, by looking at the things he sees on 

 his way to it professionally, as well as sportingly, 

 the young soldier may make his hunting like a most 

 interesting and instructive illustrated book. 



It so happens that the village we are going 

 through might be an important one, for in it is a 

 bridge over the Blue River, which is deep and 

 unfordable, and to secure the passage of the river 



