station en route to Southampton.

After we were comfortably seated in the coach, I did not like to see the prisoner handcuffed, so removed the shackles. He entered into conversation with a passenger, which for a while made me suspicious. However, that passed away, and in a few hours we arrived at Southampton. It was my duty to take the prisoner to the lock-up and provide him with refreshments, and take him over again when the steamer was ready to sail for Plymouth. Instead of that, I allowed him to go with us and have dinner at our hotel. After the meal we sat conversing, when, without warning, the prisoner left the room and tried to make his escape. Coady was too smart for him, and pulled him down off the wall and secured him. We found out the passenger he met on the train had something to do with it. After that the prisoner was kept handcuffed.

We arrived at Millbay the next morning, took the prisoner to his ship, handed him over and got a receipt and expenses incurred during the trip, for which the naval authorities were responsible, and then reported at military headquarters, Mount Wise. We were attached to the 10th Regiment, just returned from China. We remained in Plymouth three days, which gave me an opportunity to visit my friends.

On embarking at Millbay wharf, it being a very dark night, my escort, Private Coady, missed his footing on the gang plank and fell overboard between the steamer and the wharf. With much difficulty he was rescued, having had a narrow escape from drowning. We missed the train at Southampton, but the chief of police billeted us at the Queen's Hotel. The following day we reported at Aldershot.

We had very few sham fights during the summer, but field days were frequent. A divisional order would issue that "H.R.H. Duke of Cambridge, commander-in-chief, would visit the camp, and all brigades would parade and form in the Long Valley to-morrow at 9 a.m." We knew that meant a hard field day. The Duke was a great soldier and would have things done right, and always gave credit where it was due. On one occasion he was heard to say: "What regiment is that?" One of the field officers replied: "It's the 17th, your Highness." "It's steady, and their marching is excellent." When the commander-in-chief or any of the Royal family visited the camp the Royal Standard was hoisted at headquarters.

Orders were issued on one occasion that we leave camp for seven days and become a flying column. Then the whole brigade struck tents at daybreak, and marched the first day to Walmer forest and remained there two days. This is a distance of 16 miles, and to do this in heavy marching order was a good test of the marching powers of our young battalion; but the men were equal to the occasion and did the march in excellent form.

When the reveille sounded the next morning we were leaving camp. A severe thunderstorm came up and we were obliged to strike and pack tents during the storm. A young private did not fall in when his company was parading, and one of the officers asked him the reason he was not doing so. He replied that he did not have his breakfast and would not fall in till he had. He was at once made a prisoner and marched as such to Walmer forest, when the commanding officer applied for a drumhead court-martial. In consequence of the prisoner's previous good character, the general directed the colonel to deal with the case, and he was sentenced to seven days' cells.

When we arrived we found our arms, accoutrements and kit in a bad state, so the troops were kept busy for some time spreading their clothing in the sun to dry and cleaning their belongings in general; but soon the camp began to look cheerful, the flags were hoisted on headquarters and other tents, the bands were playing, and everything forgotten except sore feet. Having enjoyed a day's rest, we marched to Cæsar's Hill, about the same distance as the previous march.

The mimic warfare commenced. We threw out an outlying picket with supports and reserve, and the whole camp was placed in a state of defence against a supposed enemy in the distance.

Parties were sent out, skirmishing extended and trenches dug. This was quite exciting and gave us an idea of what we should have to confront during our later service. The commissariat department supplied all rations on the spot. They killed and baked on the camp grounds, and issued groceries and vegetables every morning.

We remained two days in this camp. Our next march was to Sandhurst. We were to be near the great military college whose cadet corps would take part in the brigade drill. A regiment of hussars attached to our brigade formed the advance guard, preceded us several miles, and on their arrival accidentally set the heather on fire, so when the troops arrived they were put to work. After some hard fighting and exciting incidents we extinguished it. We remained here two days, continuing camp life and field work, finally returning to our camp grounds, Cove Common.

As the fall set in camp was broken up, and my regiment was to occupy the west block of the permanent barracks, and my reward for the part I had taken during the drill season was promotion to the rank of lance-sergeant, and to my great delight I was occasionally called upon to instruct a squad of recruits.

A very important factor in our training, one of the finest gymnasiums in the world, was near completion and would be ready to receive squads for instruction in a short time. Eventually we were ordered to prepare squads for gymnastic work, and those who had the privilege of attending it liked it very much. I was very fond of fencing, single stick and sword drill. This gymnasium was built and equipped, and the exercises, systematized and progressive, were the same as those at Oxford University. They were under the supervision of Professor McLaren, and in after years were introduced and used in the French and German armies.

At Christmas I obtained a furlough to visit my people at Penryn. The next day after arrival, in my sergeant's uniform with silk sash and gold stripes, I visited my friends and my former companions. I was the only soldier in the town.

During Christmas day two regiments—2nd battalion 25th, and Tower Hamlets Militia—quartered in the east block, were disputing as to which had the best dinner. The dispute became so hot that the men ran to their barrack rooms and opened fire on each other. The space between the barracks was covered with glass. Every man had possession of ten rounds of ball cartridge, which he kept in his pouch. Every reasonable means was used to stop the firing, but they still kept it up. At last it was found necessary to bring up a battery of artillery, and the rioters were warned that if they did not cease firing the battery would open fire upon them. In a short time they ceased and the rioters were made prisoners, later tried by court-martial and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. Fortunately no one was killed, and the only casualty was a drummer slightly wounded. The next day both regiments returned their ammunition into the magazine. The Tower Hamlets were ordered to their headquarters, London, and disbanded. The 25th were sent to Spike Island, a convict settlement near Queenstown, Ireland.

We had now a very nice reading-room, also a library. A regimental school was opened and the children attended. Any man who could not read or write must attend school until he obtained a fourth-class certificate, but that did not prevent him from advancing. If he wished promotion he must obtain a third-class for corporal, second-class for sergeant, and a first-class certificate would be an important factor if he were looking toward a commission.

Being musical, I took a great interest in our band, which by this time had become a fairly good one. Our bandmaster, Mr. John Holt, was transferred from the Stafford Militia and was a most genial and courteous gentleman. Our band-sergeant was Charles Fitzpatrick, son of the sergeant-major of the South Devon Militia, and, like the master, he was a fine fellow. In 1868 he was