Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/369

 THE LANDING. 339 that their fellow -labourer of the morumg was chap their master — a master to whom they were every xxii. day growing more and more attached, but still their master. He therefore maintained his sta- tion. He did more: he gained great authority over the people about him ; and when he bade farewell to the wilderness, he had become like a chief of old times — a man working hard with his own hands, yet ruling others with a firm command. It was during a period of some three or four years that Airey thus wrestled with the hardsliips of forest life, but at length coming home to Eng- land, he resumed his military career. Those who know anything of the real business of war will easily believe that this episode in the life of General Airey was more likely to fit him for the exigencies of a campaign and for the com- mand of men than thrice the same length of time consumed in the revolving labours of a military department; nay, perhaps they will think that, next to a campaign, this manful struggle with the wilderness was the very work which would be the most sure to set a mind free from the habits, the bylaws, and the petty regulations of office. Before the expedition left England, Lord Eag- lan had asked General Airey to be his Quarter- master - General. Airey, preferring field duty with the divisions, had begged that some other might be appointed, and Lord Eaglan acceded to his wish ; but when, on the eve of the depar-