THE RENDEZVOUS 131 



back-ground — for a minute or so, then turn our 

 heads away and try and say to ourselves what 

 we have seen. It is good practice, young soldier, 

 for you never know when you may only have time 

 to glance at a piece of country, and then gallop 

 away with a report on it ; and it tends, moreover, 

 to develop the " prehensibility of mind " which is 

 necessary for a good scout. It is good, also, to try 

 your men at this sort of thing, and you will be very 

 much surprised to find how few can tell you in the 

 least bit accurately what they have seen. 



Enough of this ! we have come out to hunt, not 

 to lecture on squadron and company training. 



Let us turn into the straw-yard, or stable, and 

 get off our horse a minute or so before joining the 

 throng in the front of the house. Mind we do not 

 get ourselves or our horse kicked. Should there 

 be any labourers or odd men about, let them hold 

 the horse, and don't forget the " dust " — i. e. a 

 shilling — when you get on again. All this sort of 

 thing is good for " the cause," and it is only natural. 

 Would not you, as a labourer, with wages varying 

 from eleven to fourteen shillings a week, gladly 

 welcome anything which brought in an extra shilling 

 or two ? And would you not argue to yourself, 

 suppose you saw a fox in trap, "Ah! that's the 

 chap what brings them gents as are free with the 

 shillings, I'll just let he go." 



Again, when your master, the farmer, complains 

 of the hoof-marks across his fields, or the holes in 

 his fences, would you not try and make the best 



