CHAPTER I.

THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCES IN THE REGIMENT--TOBY WHITE--THE CASTLE GUARD--CHANGES IN IRELAND--DONNYBROOK FAIR--HALF-A-CROWN’S WORTH OF FIGHTING--ORDERED TO MALTA--AFFAIRS IN SYRIA--IRISHMEN AND SCOTCHMEN--TRANSPORTS--A CRUEL JOKE--AMUSEMENTS AT MALTA--CRUISE TO CANDIA AND GREECE--AN OLD COLONEL’S OPINION OF ROME AND ITS RUINS--DEPOT AT PAISLEY--FIRING A SALUTE AT DUMBARTON CASTLE--MARCH FROM STIRLING TO ABERDEEN--ILLUSTRIOUS TOM AND THE BLOTTING BOOKS--REMINISCENCES.