AFTER THEIR LONG VIGIL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1902, 10 November 1913, Page 9

AFTER THEIR LONG VIGIL.

'THE SPECIALS' SATURDAY NIGHT. It was ■flmj&tyrday when the-two squadrons'or _• ials" Who had- been - guarding tho Maxmparrai all. evening arrived back at barracks, cold and tired. In .a moment the quiet drill-yard became, a lighted, area teeming With •. life—:tno'n leading their horses to their places in tho lines, rushing, for feed pans and feed, and i having seen to their horses they clustered round a steaming boiler. "Hero you aro,. boys—plenty of hot coffee, all ready sugared. When you've finished that lot I'll make some more. When you've done with your mugs, pass them on!" In about ten minutes or a, quarter of an hour somo. 25 gallons of coffee had been swallowed by tho,"specials," who, under. its warming influence, manifested the highest spirits even at that lato hour. "It was terribly slow down at the wharf," said ono "special," in reply to a question.., '.We thoucht that there was going to be, something doing to-night, and • were rather looking forward to it, . but absolutely, nothing happened, either down there or on tho march. It was deadly slow I" "Boys," said tho coffee-maker, "divine service is to bo held at 10.30 < in tho morning, so get yourselves up spick and span, and all attend!" The announcement was received with mild applause, interrupted by one lusty trooper whose coffee "had gone the wrong way!" "Any scalps?" said the special who had been on guard duty at the barracks to ono of tho newly-returned from the front. .

"Not a one—all quiet; The strikers hare got their foot on the soft, soft pedal!" : . ' , Rirli troooer baring. drunk his pint of coffee, torn off a hunlt of bread, and helped himself to a wedge of cheese, wandered off to sav "pood-night" to his I horse, and then "straw himself" in the liig hall. Muslo Hath Charms. On Saturday evening a party of talented citizens who had conceived, tho happy idea of giving an entertainment to tlia men from the country, visited the hall. The entertainers wore introduced ' by Mr. T. Townsend (chairman of the Citizens' Defenco Committee), and for about an hour and a half music, song, and'story served to riasij the time away. Not the least gifted among those who contributed to the entertainment was

one of tlio "specials," wlio evinced a breezy talent in the reciting of Henry Lawson poems. Every item was oncored, and a nno social spirit prevailed throughout the evening. The entertainers were heartily thanked, and in response threatened to "reoeat the offence." It is understood that other parties/ of amateurs are to entertain the visitors.