Page:The Five Nations.djvu/195

 THE PARTING OF THE COLUMNS

" ... On the —th instant a mixed detachment of colonials left —— for Cape Town, there to rejoin their respective homeward-bound contingents, after fifteen months' service in the field. They were escorted to the station by the regular troops in garrison and the bulk of Colonel ——'s column, which has just come in to refit, preparatory to further operations. The leave-taking was of the most cordial character, the men cheering each other continuously."—Any Newspaper.

rode and fought and ate and drunk as rations come to hand.

Together for a year and more around this stinkin' land:

Now you are goin' home again, but we must see it through.

We needn't tell we liked you well. Good-bye—good luck to you!

You 'ad no special call to come, and so you doubled out,

And learned us how to camp and cook an' steal a horse and scout: