provisions, etc., and a train laid and connected with
the magazine. When all was ready the train was ignited; the boats
moved away and were out of danger when the explosion took place. The
men saw their ship sink, and all they had to remind them of the
circumstances was a bulldog's head, the same being the figurehead of
the ship. The boatswain and several seamen were killed by the Haytian
fire. The lost vessel was a gunboat, and her crew would not be more
than 150. These were not long in their boats, but were rescued by
passing ships and brought to Port Royal and placed on board the
_Aboukir_. The captain, navigating lieutenant and paymaster were
placed under arrest.

The frigate _Galatea_, Captain McGuire, arrived at the port. This was
the ship that H.R.H. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh went around the
world in. She was to take us back to Halifax. Previous to that she
went to Hayti to see what could be done with these people for
insulting the British flag. She soon destroyed the batteries,
returning to Port Royal, and after coaling embarked us for Halifax.

After the arrival of the crew of the _Bulldog_, Major Colthurst
permitted me to assist the paymaster in preparing the evidence,
statements, and other documents in connection with the loss of the
_Bulldog_ for transmission to England.

CHAPTER VI.

After this we were transferred to the _Galatea_ and sailed for
Halifax. The right wing left a few days before us on H.M.S. _Aurora_.

We had on board as prisoners the captain and two officers of the
_Bulldog_ en route for England, where they were to be tried by
court-martial for the loss of their ship. After a seven days' voyage
we arrived in Halifax a few days before Christmas and found the
temperature below zero, after leaving one 95 degrees above. However,
we had smiling faces to meet us, and the band was down to welcome us
back to our old quarters again. No casualties occurred while we were
absent except poor Jackson's drowning.

After handing over the books and papers in connection with the orderly
room, I resumed my duties at the brigade office. We intended to present
Dickens' Christmas Carol, Scrooge and Marley, but in consequence of our
trip to the West Indies it was postponed until the coming Easter. The
play was dramatized by Sergeant Smith; the characters had been cast and
rehearsed before we left. The general inspected the regiment and found
it in the very best condition; the drill was excelle