Burke's Revenge

gings into a train which is about to transport the -th Regiment down to Bombay, en route for embarkation to England.

Weary-looking wives and screaming children are being hustled into the stuffy carriages; the men are hoisting luggage about on their shoulders; native coolies are bustling about like Handy Andy at the circus--ever loquacious, never helpful--and their volubility is in some cases being rudely interrupted by the toe of a boot or abusive language.

On the left of the platform stands a small party consisting of one military prisoner in charge of a corporal and one man, about to proceed by the same train to the House of Correction in Bombay.

It is night-time, and the station is lit up by flaring lights, which serve to increase the weird effect of the whole scene. I happened to be the staff officer whose duty it was to see that all arrangements for the despatch of the troops were carried out in a satisfactory manner.

The general officer of the district was also present, and stood talking with the colonel