ON OUTPOST DUTY. 95 going the rounds four or five times a night ! The whole distance on a map would not exceed threequarters of a mile, if as much, but the fastest time on record was forty-eight minutes for the whole round.

Uphill and downhill, over those sharp rocks, no path visible, as your lantern would infallibly go out at the first cropper, skinning your shins over every big stone, climbing down precipices you would never attempt by daylight, losing your way, your hat, your bearings. On these black nights, any enterprising nigger could have "croaked" a sentry; the wonder was that it didn't happen. The wear and tear to shoe-leather was something awful ; not one of us had a decent pair of boots at the end of the first week.

Occasionally during the day, an officer or sentry on outpost would spot a native, miles off in the plain, and signal it down to the C.O. The Intelligence Department, still happily represented by Major Kitchener, V , D , and some Hussars, would promptly saddle any beasts that came to hand, and scoot out after him. Several times the reconnaissance party