ii6 The Course, the Camp, the Chase 



not mentioned the fact for fear of being prevented from 

 doing so. A sentry, of course, was at once placed over 

 the well until it could be cleansed, and his forcible pre- 

 vention of the navvies' wives from obtaining the water 

 for tea, very nearly ended in a general row. 



We played a great many cricket matches in all parts 

 of Devonshire, and though I was a very humble member 

 of the regimental eleven, I could generally get into double 

 figures, if I was only allowed to hit as I pleased. If I 

 was told to play steady and keep up my wicket, I was 

 sure to be out at once. We were playing once at 

 Torquay, where the ground was rather confined, so there 

 was a rule in force that a ball hit over the fence counted 

 six, and one into it was four. It was very nearly time 

 to draw the stumps, and when twenty minutes to six 

 arrived, I had taken off my pads and gloves to stow them 

 away, for at a quarter to six we were to leave to catch 

 the train. Just then a wicket was bowled, and being the 

 next to bat, I ran down just as I was. Fortescue, who 

 had an extremely fast delivery, was bowling, and had only 

 the week before got rid of Cambridge for a very small 

 score, when playing for Oxford. He was very much 

 incensed at anyone coming in without pads to oppose 

 his bowling, and he sent the first ball straight at my 

 legs. It was pitched up a little too far, and seeing it 

 was a beautiful half-volley, I drove it hard over his head 

 and out of the field for six. It took some time to get the 

 ball back again, and Fortescue sent the next ball harder 

 than ever at my legs again. It was another half-volley, 

 but that time stuck in the hedge instead of going over, 

 and so only counted four. The third ball, the last of 

 the over, went to square-leg for three, and then the 



