Page
296
Boy," and though a small army of waitors were engaged, the claimants for their attentions never seemed to diminish. Of course, every body wanted to be served at once, and when the impatient ones-whose keen appetites seemed to make the delay greater than it was-burst into one load prolonged chorus of "Boy" the Celestials only smiled more blandly than ever. Then the musical element hit on an original method of attracting attention. The first man sang out "Boy" to say, low doh, and the others, taking in turn the next higher note, ran up the modulator for about an ootave and a half. "The effect was even more marked than that created by the chorus, and everybody entered into the bamour of the thing. When the soup was served, there was a better temper prevailing, and the attempts to quicken the movements of the waiters assumed different phases, though it could not be said they were particularly successful. Some boys were anxious to please and did not spare any exertion in the perform ance of their duties ander-it must be confessed -very trying circumstances, but the majority could not be complimented on their agility. One poor gunner, wearing an agonised look, besought a score of boys to bring him beef and though each appeared to "savvy," the result was that he was ignored, his comrades, by threats and other means securing the prior attention of "John" when he returned with bis hands full. Driven desperate, the Volunteer marched to the head of the matshed where the food was dispensed and obtained what he wanted, but no sooner had he resumed his seat than
■ score of men in khaki descended upon him each with a plate of the dainty in ques- tion and piled them in front of him. The transition from starvation to surfeit proved somewhat embarrassing to the gunner, whose expression of thanks to his comrades for their solicitude on this behalf was distinguished by mora invective than perhaps the occasion demandel. Even the Chicamen entered into
THE HONGKON¡ WEEKLY PRESS AND
of the mosquitoes is interspersed with the songsters in some of the tents down the lines, and when some roysterer near at hand bursts into the pathetic appeal "Oh, dry those tears," warbled in a rolce hoarse with emotion and other things. At last one falls into a sort of fitful sleep, which is broken by the piercing sounds of the "Rereille." "What five o'clock already," you say, and starting up, make a rush, with the others, for the coffee and biscuits at the stand at the bottom of the slop). “Thank good. | ness, there is no work," is the general verdict; and after a dip in the briny, we get our tents in order, and wait for the bugle call which has been paraphrased thus: "Come to the cook house door, boys." Feeling on the whole pretty well pleased with myself-for noue of the terrible prognostications held out to me had happened I sat down with my company to breakfast. Again the same freedom and hilarity ruled at table. Jokes and jests were flying on all sidos, and as usual our attendants intermittently provoked us to wrath and to smiles. When invited to " pass the grease," you learned to hand over the butter, and when the "cow juice" was requested you knew that the lacteal fluid was meant. Then it was one heard comparisons of the previous night's experiences. One youth complained of a lack of comfort in his quirters and was met by the crusbing retort: Blimo. me, what dil yer expect. Think ye were going to have a feather bed and a punkah?' Reply to this was hopeless.
**
Rising at 5 o'clock in the morning was at first a novelty, more or less enjoyable according to the temperament of the individual, but I am afraid it came to be regarded as a nuisance. It was all right once you were up. but it was surprising how the beds, though by no means of especially if you or your neighbours had been the softest, seemed to pull in the morning, prolonging the day into the night. More than one complained of having so much day in the
[October 30, 1905, attracted an admiring crowd who gave rent to their commendations in various forms.
The favoured ones were invited to ascend, and the engineering feat was appropriately celebrated.
In the coarse of the day at camp many quaint figures were met. There was one man who had so outgrown his uniform that he had to be rushed. off to the tailor at once. His trousers were so tight that he could not get his hands into his pockets, and the man who pushed everything to a logical conclusion declared that if he wished to get anything out of his pockets he would have to take his trousers off! Fortunately things did not come to such a pass. Another interes'ing charact r was the man who called himself to attention on the approach of an officer; and the special traits of a very youthful gunaer, whose knowledge swamped his colleagues, were bit off by the presentation of a bottle with an appendage which is deemed necessary in infancy.
The rea ler must not suppose that it was all fun at the camp. On most occasions the drill was very exacting, and when a day's attendance to business had to be sandwiched between the morning and evening work, the majority were ready to confess that they were tired. There was little humour to enliven the work with the guns. Military discipline was preserved, and there was close attention to the instruction given. Still when one man indicated a slight mishap by the expression "the blooming gun is ruptured," there was something of a titter among his companions; and the smile was no less pro- who training, as he thought, the 15 pounder ou nounced on the occasion of the amateur gunner,
the house on the slope, was told by the sarcastic sergeant that he would shoot the deer which wes grazing two yards off. He had omitted to elevate his gun, but his sighting was beautiful.
This reminds me of my first experience of cinuon fire last week. The din assailed one's and the lead to buzz, while the fumes of ears with a horrid shock, causing them to tingle
the humour of that dinner and when asked night, but on the whole there was a noticeable cordite filled the nostrils and the smoke the
such searching questions as "What name this," they gave the guarded reply "Just pudding." When a man considered he had a mystery ia front of him, it was amusing to watch how he sniffed round it, out off a small piece, tasted it, masticated it slowly, and finally proclaimed his inability to define the decoction. But lest it be deemed that this spells libel, I must hasten
chow to add that everybody agreed the " very good, and when we were called to attention on the arrival of the Orderly Officer, there were no complaints to make.
10
17
WAS
That the first night should be somewhat boisterous is only to be expected. There are old acquaintanceships to ba toasted, there are naw friendships to be cemented in the time hon- opred fashion, and what more than that the "Here's fun
or the Here's to
you or the ordinary "Chin chin" should, by much repeti. tion, lead to a conviviality which was not lacking in demonstrativeness. Of course it must not be supposed that everyone passed the evening in the neighbourhood of the canteen. There were those quieter souls who were content to revel in all the beauty of their picturesque environment, to admire the moonbeams daucing on the rippling water, to gaze with increasing pride on the charming picture presented by the twinkling lights of the city of Victoria against the sombre background of the Peak, and to enjoy the agreeable sensations afforded by the novelty of their situation.
It was some little time after "lights out" that I sought out my tent. When one trips over a tent peg one feels aggrieved. How stupid, you say, to have them so far out. But your feelings are perhaps soothed and perhaps not when some comes
to the entrance and says "That's the peg you fell over, oll chap." However, your turn comes. You get to your tent, undress in the dark, and stretch yourself on your bed. You are dozing off nicely when some one stumbles over a rope, mutters something, and continues his way. Once again you settle to sleep, but again you are interrupted. This time the wayfarer's steps are not so steady. His foot catches on a peg and down he comes on your head. The intrader, hesi- tating between apologies and reproaches, takes himself off, and, relieved of this load, you once more compose yourself. But it is difficult to woo the drowsy goddess when the humming
consideration for others, and the general conduct of the camp might be ranked as good.
In order to save time in the morning one or two old campaigners went to sleep in their uniforms. Perhaps some one might suggest another reason for this, but I will take my
affidavit that those fellows
desired.
were quite capable and could have disrobed had they
"Why, it is military etiquette,' one would explain, if the enemy were to come I should be the only one ready to meet them. You (and this was uttered with withering scorn) would look well tarning out to meet the foe in your pyjamas. No mufti for me.
I am going to sleep in my uniform." He would lie down with his boots on, and perhaps sit up a few minutes later in order to put on his putties When "reveille" sounded in the morning, he stretched out his hand for his pipe and exclaimed Ready, aye ready." Only once was he induced to depart from his own standard but the trouble of dressing in the morning was appar- ently too great to lead him to repeat the experiment.
From one tent in particular there used to come an odour like that from a distillery, and at times the bottle and the glasses were seen in a conspicuous place, as if, in the absence of the owners, to announce the hospitality of which so many partook. But, singular to relate, though the two individuals more closely identified with the whisky bottle were very partial to their "peg" before turning in for the night, they both evinced a strong disinclination to fetch the water. This led to a debate every evening in which each recited the numerous things he had done that day in order to show the other he had been very industrious, but as both were experts in drawing the long bow they would invariably appeal to each other on the score of friendship. remember you as long as I live if you go down for the water," one would say, to which the other would reply, "There's a good fellow, you get it." Eventually they would set out together a procedure due to each hesitating to leave the whisky bottle in the possession of the other. The inmates of this tent-which was situated on a ridge-earned further distinction by cutting steps to its approach, and what an amount of interest that event aroused. The inmates themselves were occupied the first night in walking up and down the steps until they had
"I'll
eyes, but after a few flashes and reports one got accustomed to the roar and the noise ; sad, indeed, several began to thirst for a teste of the genuine article. In a few minutes they usually became normal, and once across the water acquitted themselves as peace-loving citizens do. The mechanism of the Maxim was rather fascinating but its rattle was a terrible zerve destroyer, and a little while in the onerous position of marksman made one relish a change of duty. The general desire to learn and to experience made this fairly easy, and not à few good gun layers were discovered.
For the first time in my life I shot from a rifs. I marched up to the range in some trepidation because I had been told of the terrible bruises which several of
my comrades carried as the result of the rifle kicking from the great shock it received. It was binted that I might even return in such a condition that I would be unrecognisable, and padding was suggested. Disregarding this as unsoldierly, I went up to the target, was given my seven rounds, and instructed how to use the weapon. To my astonishm nt I hit the target. first time, and again and again. I began to get cocky, and thought of eclipsing all records, when lo a miss. Auother followed. When there was quite a succession of blanks until I felt the mirker must have had a grievance against me No matter how I adjusted my sight, and steadied myself till there was no apparent possibility of the ballet getting wide of the bull's eye, the same old signal was returned. Advice from the friendly instructor led to a slight recovery and · I was able to finish with a score that need not be regarded as a reproach. Still I won't tell you what it was.
I had almost forgotten to tell yon of the great doings at our sham fight, but that, with a record of a night on guard, will have to come in a future issue.
Viceroy Yuan's administrative reforms, which are to be tried experimentally in Chibli, provide for the abolition of the posts of intendants and prefects, whose duties will be handed over to new department. Each new department will have a treasurer, a judge, and a captain superintendent of police. In the larger villages assistant magistrates and police inspectors will be stationed.
-L
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.