The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-03-29

field officer, who briefly asked If all was
co,rnct directed me to dismiss my
eusrd. and rode off without saying
"Good night" a proceeding l thought
rather formal. Giving directions to the
sergeant to call me in ap hour, for the
purpose Of visiting the sentries, | threw
myself into my armchair and tried to
read novel. The time passed very
Quickly. as had nap or two, and the
sergeant soon appeared with lantern
TO conduct me round the sentrles.
It WAS terrible night, the wind
blowing hard, whilst the snow and sieet
we're driving along before it. The ther-
mometer was several degrees below
freezing. aud I felt that I-'sssssssfss sssss EEsS Eiss
much from nay country for performing
30 conscientiously my arduous duties.
The sentrics were very much scattered,
and | had to walk nearly two miles to
visit them all accomplished my task,
however. and returned to the guard
room, where | treated myself to stiff
glass of grog, and throwing off my
regimentals, l Jumped into bed, feeling
thst really deserved the luxury.
In q few minutes ! was fast asleep,
not even dreaming OF any Of my far
partners Of the ball, but sound asleep.
lSnddenlr became conscious of a great
tnoise. which sounded like drum being
tsaten. At first die not realize my
position. and could not remember where
was, but at last it flashed acros; me
that vac on guard, and that some>
thing was the matter. jumping out of
bed, | cslled to know who was there.
The sers<ant answered in n great hur-
ry, saving: "Sir, the field-ofticer Of the
1av is coming, and the guard ID turning
out"
Irushed to 10y bnota, pulled them on
over my unstockipgod feet; thrust my
sword arIn into my large regimentai
cloak. which I pnllei over me; iammed
! nv forage cap on my head and grasping
my sword, looked to the outward OBJ
server as though eft for parade"
was Just in time TO receive the field
officer, who again asked NE if my guard
! was correct. / answered, rather in
tone OF surprise, and said-'Yes, sir,
all correct" ] corld not imagine Why
my guard should be visited twice, as
such q proceeding was very unusual,
and perhaps my tone seemed to imply
that was aurprised. Watcher II WAS
that or w,lether troaclIaroas gust OF
wind removed 3he fold Of r'l.' cloak, anu
exhibited the slightest tate IN lie OF
n,A end of my n4r'1t shirt. ! knnrr I,''''
! orT-,i;V ilec%5 SG1r, nSFea / "I FIuih8
/ On whea he received NY ans wer, turned
. his horses head IN Inc rpi'alte direc-
lion, and said Nov, cir, I want you
30 accompany me round the sentries.
Had he told NE that Re- wanted me to
accompany him to the regions below, l
/ should scarce have been more horror
ssr.ick, for already l had found the
change Of tenpera 1ure between a warm
bed u u warm roos and the outside air;
and to walk two mi les on windy, frosty
night, Nth no rais!ent besides boots,
night-:.llirt. and CLOAK, was really suffer
ing foe ones country, and no mistake.
! r Il i oil
ton, however, for fesr the state of my
attire might be suspected, though L
would have given my week 6 pay to have
i escaped for only five minutes. A non.
commissioned officer was ready with
lantern, and we started on our tour OF
inspection.
The field officer asked several ques-
tions in regard to the position and du-
ties of sentres, to which gave answers
as we'll as the chattering OF my teeth
would permit me. The most nervous
work, however, WIS passing the gas
lamps, which were placed at intervals OF
one or two hundred yards. The wind
was blowing 30 fresh that it was with
difficulty could hold my cloak around
me, and conceal the absence of my un>
dorgarments Every now and then an
extra gust of wind would come round a
corner, and quite defeat all the pre-
cautions which I had adopted to en-
ceunter the steady gale. ] managed to
dodge in the shade as much as possible,
and ran the risk Of being kicked by the
field officers horse AS | skunk behind
him when the gas-light might have re
vealed too much.
It was terribly cold, to be sure, the
! wind and snow almost numbing my
limbs. I had q kind of faint hope that
the field officer might think that | be-
lon9ed to Highland regiment, and Ii
he did observe the scantiness OF my AT
tire, might believe that the kilt would
explain it. I struggled and shivered on,
knowing that all things must have an
end, and that my rounds must come
to an end before long. But l feared
that should not again get warm during
/ the night.
We had nearly completed our tour,
, and were within few hundred yards of
3 the guard room, when we passed the
field officers quarters. l fondly hpped
that he would not pass them, andthat
| he would dismiss mo at the door, but l
was surprised to see blaze OF ight
\ come from the windows, and to hef the
g sound OF music. 1t was evident that
/, there was "hop" going on inslde,and
2 I already began to tremble, from asort
Of instinct that even worse misforpnes
| were yet to attend me.
8 My premonitions were true, for lpon
d reaching his door, my persecuto, IN
. nuite cheerful tone, said: "Fell,
: we've had cold tour, you mustlnow