a
quarter of a pound of white bread. After that meal, some in dress and
others in undress uniform, went into town; others remained in barracks,
playing drafts and other games, until "tattoo," at half-past eight, when
the first post sounded, and all men about the town, on hearing it,
immediately returned to barracks, or should have done so. In the
meantime the orderly-sergeants called the rolls of the respective rooms,
noted all the men absent, and gave lists of them to the regimental
orderly-sergeant. He again called the roll, and reported all still
absent to the officer of the day, who reported them to the adjutant
[Note 1]. On receiving the report, the adjutant sent the pickets [Note
2] out to bring them in, when those out without leave were confined to
barracks, or received some other punishment the following day. This
done, the staff and non-commissioned officers [Note 3] are dismissed to
their rooms.

Such was my first day in barracks, and such were many days of my life
afterwards. Such indeed is a soldier's ordinary day. On the Sunday
there is a parade instead of drills, and the men are marched to their
respective churches; those of the Church of England to theirs, the
Presbyterians to theirs, the Roman Catholics to theirs. On the last day
of the month, the regiment falls in for parade generally, in England, in
great coats, when every man borne on its strength must answer to his
name, or be accounted for as "on duty", "on furlough", "in
imprisonment", "deserted", "deceased", "in hospital." Regiments are
also marched out of barracks into the country with bands playing and
colours flying, and there are reviews and sham fights occasionally.
Soldiers, too, are placed as sentries before officers' quarters and
other places, and they have many other duties to perform even in the
piping times of peace. I shall soon have to show the life they lead in
war-time. Theirs is not an idle life, but still they have plenty of
time for amusement, and what is more, for improving themselves if they
will but wisely take advantage of it.

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Note 1. The adjutant is chosen from among the lieutenants or captains,
for his steadiness and knowledge of military duties. He is the
commanding officer's principal assistant. All orders are passed through
him, and he has to see that the young officers and non-commissioned
officers are perfect in their drill, and