164 The Course, the Camp, the Chase 



we had some altercation about that prisoner, for we were 

 dead tired. This was the 3rd February. I had been up 

 day and night ever since the 30th, and for the two 

 previous nights had never had time to lie down at all, so 

 it is scarcely to be wondered at that the additional charge 

 of a naked, slippery prisoner was not very welcome. In 

 vain did I suggest that those who had caught him should 

 keep him. My superior officer did not see that at all, as 

 he wished to rid himself of him as soon as possible, and 

 retire to the hampers of refreshments that accompanied 

 the staff. " Well, sir," I said, " if I am to take care of 

 him, I'll take good care he doesn't escape " — and I did so. 

 Before starting off with the sentries I saw him securely 

 tied to a sapling, under the charge of the sergeant of the 

 guard that was placed over the ammunition in the middle 

 of the camp, and I gave orders to the sentry to shoot him 

 on the spot if he endeavoured to make his escape. We 

 chose a thin, young tree, and bringing his elbows behind it, 

 tied them securely together, so that he could vary his 

 position by standing up or sitting down. All that night 

 the rain pelted down on the unfortunate prisoner, and the 

 next morning as we were marching off I told the sergeant 

 of the guard to release him and bring him on. Directly 

 afterwards I was hailed with the shout of " Sir." " Well, 

 what is it ? " I replied. " Please, sir, the prisoner can't 

 move," was the answer. I went up, and, sure enough, he 

 was so stiff with cold and wet, and the cramped position, 

 that though the cords had been removed he could not stir. 

 " Take a couple of men, and run him up and down till 

 his circulation comes back," was my order. This was 

 promptly done, and it had its humorous side, to see two 

 riflemen trottino: backwards and forwards with the naked 



