CHAPTER IX.
Our bivouac presented an animated, and rather a singular scene, by the appearance upon the stage of the troops destined to act a prominent part in the approaching struggles.
Groups of England’s “hearts of oak,” seated on the backs of horses harnessed to naval guns, here represented Jack Tar literally as the proverbial “Horse Marine.” Knots of those splendid amphibious bull-dogs, the Royal Marine Light Infantry, stood among us and related their recent experiences. There was a fine body of Sikhs — fierce, resolute-looking fellows, with an air of military dash about them. And not the least remarkable among this martial and motley assembly, with all its variety of mien and attitude, race and colour, was a very strong (numerically) regiment of Gurkhas.
Although we are now to co-operate with a distinguished Field Force — which for the sake of brevity will in future be termed Brigade — with its proceedings this narrative will interfere as little as possible. It may, however, be noted here that its total number of all arms was some three thousand men, and of these only ourselves (two hundred and fifty) were cavalry.
