Page:Suakin, 1885.djvu/16

 perfectly equipped in every detail than ever force was before.

On the evening of the 11th of February I was on my way home from the club, where I had been talking to various friends about the all-absorbing topic of the day. I was walking along the streets thinking what lucky fellows they were who were sailing the following week, and wishing, like every other soldier, that I could get a place somehow or other. I had reached my door when my reveries were interrupted by a telegraph-boy saying—

"Is this for you, sir?"

Quite unsuspicious of what it contained, telegrams in these days being pretty well as plentiful as letters, I was somewhat astonished when I found the purport of the message was as follows:—

"From the Adjutant-General.—Be so good as to hold yourself in readiness to proceed to Suakin at once, and report yourself here the first thing to-morrow morning."

Had it not been to save the feelings of my wife, and otherwise alarming the household, I should have relieved myself by a good cheer; as it was, however, I kept my feelings to myself, and commenced at once to put my affairs in