64 The Course, the Camp, the Chase 



enforced retirement from the post he had so honourably 

 filled for so many years. 



The leave did not last very long, however, when it was 

 obtained. I had only been a short time at home when a 

 sudden telegram recalled me to Winchester, to proceed at 

 once to Devonport, owing to the Bread Eiots that were 

 occurring in Devonshire. Luckily our services were not 

 required. The battalion shortly arrived from India, and 

 it was, indeed, a pity that it was not photographed at 

 once, for few regiments in the service could have shown 

 such a display. The ranks were filled with the men who 

 had gone through the Crimean War and the Indian 

 Mutiny, some of them also having taken part in the 

 Boer and Kaffir Wars, and in the Chinese War under 

 Gordon. There was not a single front-rank man in any 

 company with less than three medals, most of them had 

 four, while very few in the rear ranks, — being those who 

 had only lately joined, — had none. All the men wore 

 beards, some of them nearly to their waists ; and curious 

 as it might look now, when no whiskers are worn, at that 

 time it gave the men a very fine appearance. I regret 

 so much that I did not make notes of the many thrilling 

 stories I heard the men relate of their war experiences, 

 which now have long been forgotten. One sergeant 

 related how, at the attack on the Malakhoff Tower, he 

 had just fired his rifle, when he caught sight of a Kussian 

 standing at a breach made in the wall, who had also just 

 fired his rifie. Catching each other's eyes, they both 

 proceeded to load with all the haste they possibly could. 

 Our sergeant was lying on the ground, and, having loaded 

 the first, he proceeded to make particularly sure of his 

 aim, knowing that if he missed he probably would never 



