AFTER THE BATTLE 173 



May we not say that, even in its panics, hunting 

 is the Image of war? 



Hulloa ! We have struck into the road we came 

 by to the meet, and there are two turnings — which 

 way did we come ? If we remembered to look back 

 as we came, we shall probably know, if not, we must 

 pull out the map to see. 



It's getting dusk now, and the road looks quite 

 different to what it did in the daylight, while bushes, 

 trees, etc. begin to assume fantastic shapes, and 

 we might almost fancy that we can see figures in 

 the fences. All this sort of thing is training, 

 excellent training, for the time when we shall go 

 on night outpost duty, especially when our minds 

 and bodies are, as they are now, somewhat de- 

 pressed from fatigue and an empty stomach. These 

 two, particularly when coupled with dusk or dark- 

 ness, often make all things look different to what 

 they really are ; and what a difference the latter 

 makes when it comes to a case of fighting ! 



Hold up, horse ! That was a bad stumble. And 

 how we resent it now when we are tired, hungry, 

 and, what usually accompanies these two, cross. 

 Yet we ought not to job him in the mouth or kick 

 him with the spur, for he is tired and hungry too, 

 certainly the latter far more than we are, and has 

 he not been working all day for our pleasure ? 

 Therefore let us say, " Hold up, old man," and ride 

 him and keep him awake with legs and voice rather 

 more in future. 



Thus shall we learn from the Image to rise 



