rding to the obstacles it encountered and, "if it struck a
man, it might break his leg."

In such a martial atmosphere the boy was brought up, and he was early
nourished with the history of the Highland regiments. Also from his
father he inherited, or had instilled into him, a love of the out of
doors, a knowledge of trees, and plants, a sympathy with birds and
beasts, domestic and wild. When the South African war broke out a
contingent was dispatched from Canada, but it was so small that few of
those desiring to go could find a place. This explains the genesis of
the following letter:

I see by to-night's bulletin that there is to be no second contingent. I
feel sick with disappointment, and do not believe that I have ever been
so disappointed in my life, for ever since this business began I am
certain there have not been fifteen minutes of my waking hours that it
has not been in my mind. It has to come sooner or later. One campaign
might cure me, but nothing else ever will, unless it should be old age.
I regret bitterly that I did not enlist with the first, for I doubt if
ever another chance will offer like it. This is not said in ignorance of
what the hardships would be.

I am ashamed to say I am doing my work in a merely mechanical way. If
they are taking surgeons on the other side, I have enough money to get
myself across. If I knew any one over there who could do anything, I
would certainly set about it. If I can get an appointment in England
by going, I will go. My position here I do not count as an old boot in
comparison.

In the end he accomplished the desire of his heart, and sailed on the
'Laurentian'. Concerning the voyage one transcription will be enough:

On orderly duty. I have just been out taking the picket at 11.30 P.M. In
the stables the long row of heads in the half-darkness, the creaking of
the ship, the shivering of the hull from the vibration of the engines,
the sing of a sentry on the spar deck to some passer-by. Then to the
forward deck: the sky half covered with scudding clouds, the stars
bright in the intervals, the wind whistling a regular blow that tries
one's ears, the constant swish as she settles down to a sea; and,
looking aft, the funnel with a wreath of smoke trailing away off into
the darkness on the starboard quarter; the patch of white on the funnel
discernible dimly; the masts drawing maps across the sky as one looks
up; the clank of shovels coming up through the ventila