came within the writer's own investigation. The investiture of fiction
has been here adopted for the obvious reason that neither of the
principal characters in these two stories would desire his name to be
known. So, too, in the other sketches, although the characters are
"real"--I can only hope that they will be half as real to the reader as
they were and are to me--the names are assumed.

It is my privilege to inscribe this little book to Lieut.-General Sir
C.F.N. Macready, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., to whose staff I was attached and to
whose friendship, encouragement, and hospitality I owe a debt which no
words can discharge.

J. H. M.

_January 1916._




CONTENTS


I

THE BASE
PAGE
I. BOBS BAHADUR 3
II. AT THE BASE DEPÔT 11
III. THE WILTSHIRES 17
IV. THE BASE 26