back, and to enliven the march would sing
songs; those with a good chorus which were joined in by the rest.
These days of the past were often talked over by us in later years,
while I, to please the Collector of Customs, Mr. Hamly, in 1884,
resigned membership in the militia, after eighteen years as a
volunteer soldier. Colonel Wolfenden continued on for many years.
In conclusion I might add that when I joined the volunteers Captain
Laing, then manager of the Bank of British Columbia, was captain. I
cannot remember whether Colonel Wolfenden was a member then or not,
but it was not long after. Other officers of that time were Adjutant
Vinter, Captain Fletcher (P. O. Inspector), Captain Dorman (deputy
Inspector), Major Roscoe (hardware merchant), Captain T. L. Wood
(Solicitor-General), Captain Drummond (company No. 2), and Chaplain
Rev. Thomas Sommerville. Occasionally we went into camp for a month,
and generally at Beacon Hill, or at Henley's, at Clover Point. These
camps were made very interesting by entertainments being frequently
given, and to which our friends were invited. Oh, those were days
worth remembering! During the time of the Fenian Raid we were
encamped in the trees just about where the bear pits were, and the
night sentries were told to keep a strict lookout, and challenge all
intruders. This was taken advantage of by some young fellows to play
a lark on us. So one night when the camp was asleep, we were all
awakened by the sentry's outcry. He happened to be the late Robert
Homfray, a rather nervous man. I got up with the rest, and there
was the sentry with what he declared was an infernal machine, which
had been thrown into the camp by someone who had made off in the
darkness. The infernal machine consisted of a bottle filled with what
was supposed to be giant powder, and bits of iron or steel, with a
fuse sticking out of the neck of the bottle. It was, after careful
inspection without much handling, put away till the morning, and
then, a more strict examination revealed the contents to be simply
small bits of coal to represent giant powder, and genuine steel
filings. This was a standing joke against us, and especially Private
Homfray, for many a day afterwards. To conclude, finally, I am sure I
have the most kindly recollections of my friend of so many years, as
have many more to-day, who will bear full testimony to his sterling
worth as a soldier, government official and gentleman.

CHAPTER XXVII