ON GUARD

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12584, 20 August 1901, Page 2

ON GUARD

(Soutb African Magazine,) “Tall in,” orders the Sergeant, and straightway Tommy Morgan, the.bookbinder, Jim Brown, the comp.,,and Jonathan Fitzherbert, Esq., the printer, with their brother workmen—all gentlemen in kharki—take their places on Town Guard duty. And queer fellows they look too! All sizes and shapes, styles and patterns. They might pass muster after three months’ training; but they’ve only had six weeks’ occasional drill. Still they go through their work cheerfully, determined to put their best foot forward. “Form fours, right: by the left; quick march!” and all step off briskly to be inspected by the Adjutant. The men axe drawn up outside the order-ly-room, in St George’s Street; and' a little crowd of spectators gathers near by to see i-io citizen soldiers do their duty. The Captain, somewhat of a novice at the business, forgets to “ number off,” and ia gently reminded of this fact by the Adjutant. (Memo for Captain next time: "number off” on. every possible occasion.) Tne Adjutant puts the men through a movement or two, and inspects some of the rifles. Of course it is always proper form for an Adjutant to complain of something, just to show he knows his business. “ This rifle wants cleaning,” he remarks with all the sternness he can command. Private Jones looks uncomfortable, knowing that it’s nob his fault. The Captain intervenes, . and promises to call attention to the dereliction of duty on the part of the Armoury Guard, who can amuse themselves with the weapon to their hearts’ content when not on “ Sentry go.” The Adjutant, having satisfied himself all is ready, hands the company over to the Captain, with instructions that he is to mount guard on Signal Hill and Lion’s Rump for twenty-four hours, then “Forward” is the command. The men march with a steadiness that would do credit to any soldier. First up one street, then another, finally turning into the Military Road, which brings the company near to the Tamboer’s Kloof Magazine, where vast stores of shell and smaller ammunition are kept. “Look out for the guard, sir,” hints the Sergeant. “Attention, shoulder arms!” ■ Every man pulls himself together —noso in tne air, chest thrown out as much as to say, “ Ha! ha! aren’t we a smart lot? How’s this for style?” The guard at the Kloof turns out and presents arms, a salutation, and THE MARCH PROCEEDS. Higher up the “ south-easter ” becomes a little playful,' the road stony and a bit steep; but there is no delay, higher and higher they go. The sun is setting on the scene below, illuminating the slopes of the grand old Mountain with gold, , crimson and purple. Some parts of Cap® Town from; this point have quite, an oriental appearance, owing to its flat-roofed, whitewashed houses. A welcome order to “ march easy ” enables the men to smoke, and carry their rifles as they please. Their load is not a light one: 100 rounds of ammunition, a haversack full of rations and a rifle weighing Qjtlb. Onward and upward to the Lion’s Rump Battery. The sentry, with a grin, challenges the relief guard, and after a satisfactory reply graciously unlocks the gate. The first guard marches through to take up its duties, which apparently consist in guarding two obsolete M.R. guns, but in reality an important position which has to be protected, containing an apparatuswell that is a secret. The remainder have one of the nicest little climbs they have ever experienced—a»,regular dient of one in three. There are frequent nests before the Signal Station on top of the hill, 1100 feet above sea. level, is reached Then a dark figure looms out against the sky-line: it is the sentry, who quickly calls out the weary guard of the last twenty-four hours, and challenges the newcomers. The .guards form up and change—and the relieving officer takes over the command. There is not much to see: a small house, shared, between the signalman and his assistant, on the summit of a round hill, about fifty yards square, two huts, three masts, signals and a weather gauge. THE WIND BLOWS WITH FEROCITY

enough to knock a man down ; but on getting Inside the guardroom, several comfortnhl! military overcoats are found and qffiokly annexed' by the men. A patrol of a corporal and two privates W at once sent ou?to the position, aud left behind turn in and rest, ino omcer in command finds himself in luck, for the wife afTe head-signaltaan has provided on excelS supper ‘ After which he goes the rounds, and—admires the scenery, which is rounas, a u fun moon across the <mt, th. mdMkiW jSSoS Z

steep path, then suddenly ’ three dark figures emerge from the bush and a sharp voice rings opt, “Halt! who goes thereV" “Officer of the guard.” After descending a faw hundred feet he sits down and takes a rest; the city below is fast asleep, hut its citizen soldiers are alert, for dowp the Tamboer’s Kloof Magazine ho hears the following call, faintly borne on the wind upward and onward: “ Number Four, all’s well !” Again the CaptfAn is challenged, by another patrol lower down, which has been posted from the Lion’s Rump Battery. Amy-ed at the Battery, he .goes the rounds, sees that the sentries understand their duties, inspects the guards, returns to' his quarters on the top of the hill, in the comfortable sitting-room of the signal--man, and sleeps the sleep of the just. Considerable difficulty is experienced in conveying supplies to the summit of the hill, the cart road being quite out of the way; the patient, sure-footed, white-haired donkey, therefore, climbs the narrow path, and sometimes makes the journey twice a day'heavily laden with' good things. At 7.30 p.m. the sentry on -duty' calls out that the relief guard is coming up the hill, which immediately sets the old guard on the alert.. Soon the squad of fifteen men appear, and take over the duties, and the relief guard, after presenting arms, march homewards down hill, a great deal faster than they came up. The Armoury in the city is reached soon after eight o’clock, rifles and ammunition are given up, and the men return to their homes, easy victims to Morpheus.