Year: 1871

NV ~ 1otJpClOI-


As you may be quite sure, being only
nineteen, [ was most tremendously
anxious to get my commission, and
when at last I was gazetted to the 2O4th
Foot, did not give my tailor much
rest till my uniform and the parapher-
MALTA Of my outfit were sent home.


l dare say, to the old and sage, it is
very ridiculous bnt to me it was oIori-
GUS, that first putting on of m1litay
garments. The bedroom door was
locked [ was quite alone. There
was tall eheval glass by the bedside,
and what was there to prevent me from
struttlng about, as scarlet in the face
almost as my tightly buttoned tunic
1t did not fit me perfectly, I knew; but
having it altered would necessitate it's
being taken away, and that idea was
lnsupportable. So I kept my things
Just as they were and In the hot stage
of scarlet fever IN which I then was.
the fact OF my regiment being ordered
out to China did not give me much
llneasiness; for even in a Chinese war
there did not seem much cause for
discomfort, since [ believed that the
British could chase the barbarians by
the thousand


l will not trouble you with the ac-
count of our long journey out, and our
landing in the Celestial Empire. Let
it suffice when [ tell you that upon our
arrival it was to find hostilities in full
progress, and, boy as [ was. [ had to
take my turn with the rest, smelt DOW
der, heard the whiz of bullets, and saw
my smart uniform soiled with mud and
filth.


1t was hot work IN both senses of
the word. Now we were wading in
Fiver-bei or creek, with the blazing
sun above us, and the rank, steamy
heat rising from the slime; now we
were storming a mud fort, or chasing
the enemy over the swampy riee-felds
or through cane-brakes while the
next day, perhaps, we were accompany
ing some looting expedition


At last, after making pretty good
progress up the country, we stormed
town, which I will call here Ling-Po.
1t had been pretty tough job, for the
mud walls had been held by a strong
party of Braves. However, at last, the
day was ours; the Braves were sup
posed to have been driven out, and We
had taken possession, the men distribute
ing themselves pretty well over the
place, and [ was along with half doz-
en- OF the bandsmen, who were on their
way to the place chosen for head-quar
ters, there to deposit their instruments
previous to going upon ambulance
duty; the helping of the wounded
belng3 as perhaps ya1 are aware the
duty of the bandsmen IN time of war.


We were rather indifferentIy armed,
the bandsman having only those short
Roman-looklng sports very blunt ones
too-gnd though [ had my sword and
revolver, l had received d nasty thrust
through the right arm from the spear
of Brave hurt which necessitated
the wounded limb being carried in a
sling, and made me feel more sick and
faint than [ cared to own amongst men
who would have looked upon my in
jury aS a mere scratch


The town was evidently alarge, dense
plyopulated place, full of fcrooked lanes.
streets, and blind alleys, among which
We kept wandering for quite an hour
before we were compelled to own that
we had lost our way.


Ii yell be kInd enough to take the
lade, Mr. Grey, well folly ye," said
one o. the bandsmen, turning suddenly
round upon me and scratching his puz-
zled pate.


IN ready enough to lead. Dennis"
said; : but I'm about done up for want
OF a title water I was thinking of
asking you folks to carry me-


: | m thinking, sor, that we NAV lust
as well sit down in the shade and wait,
for tie headquarters is list as likely
to come to w as we are to get to it
A bl6 place like this would puzzle
map aaker.


thouget I'd tell you, sir, that
there a couple OF Chinese been fol
lowing us for the last five minutes, y
said another of the men, "and tain't
as 1t we had rifles.


looked uneasiiy back down the
long, narrow, sun-glared street, but
there was not a soul visible All was
as still as death, save for distant shot
OF two, which seemed to come from
quite another part of the town, and
TO indicate that the fighting was not
entlEety at an end The houses on
either hand were closely shuttered, and
presented the most blank of aspects
and though we scanned the windows
above, not a watching face was visible.


[ could not help owning that, should
we be attacked by some detached body
OF the Braves, our chances would be
very small and / should have blamed
myself for want Of care, had not the
difficulty Of finding ones way through
such q wilderness become more and
more evident at each stride we took.


9 It's my belafe, eor, that Corporal
Smiths lading us Intirely wrong" said
the Irishman, speaking again.


''Lead yourself, then, . said the
corporal, grutfiy, as he tucked his large
ophicleide beneath his arm, and paus
ed to wipe the perspiration from his
forehead


9 ! tell you what, sir said another
man tour best cornet player, eve had
better make dash for it / don't like
the look of tins at all Will you or
der a retreat .


'Why, what's wrong said [ test
1ly, tor al the time there was a dizzy
sensation IN my head, and the street
looked dusty before my eyes.


: We are being lodged, sir, and no
mistake and ii we take refuge in one
OF these houses, We shall perhaps be
burned out


Irving TO rouse myself I hurriedIv
took glance at our position. We
we're evidently in one of the lower
part of the town; and She street where
we were IN was one Of the narrowest /
had ceen since III the country, Every
here and there alleys ran off at right
angles, but each apparently ended in a
cut Ce sac, and TO enter one Of them
might have been like running into a
gin, rom which there was no means OF
extrl 'ating ourselves. To make mat
ters Torse, too, there was moment
after four or five Braves showed them
selVe3 for moment and then disap-
peared


fortunately, the peril that threatened
our tile party seemed 80 clear nv