crazy with joy--we hurried
through our packing, then we sat around all night, singing, telling
yarns, and trying to put in the time till morning. Early next day we
were marched to the station, and though for obvious reasons our going
had not been advertised, hundreds of friends were there to see us off.
They loaded us with candy, fruit, smokes, and magazines, and I don't
think a happier bunch ever left Winnipeg. The train trip was very
uneventful. We ate and played cards most of the day. This was varied
by an occasional route march around some town on the way. When we
reached Montreal we were reviewed by the Duke of Connaught, and as soon
as this was over they marched us down to our boat. After locating our
berths we thought we had nothing to do but go out and do the city. My
chum and I made our way down to the gangway and there found our way
barred by a sentry who said, "Nobody allowed off the ship." We were
terribly disappointed, but we had learned not "to reason why" in the
Army, so we went to the other end of the ship. Here we found another
boat drawn up alongside, and as there was no one in sight we boarded
her. From here we had no trouble getting ashore, and away we went
uptown--"stolen pleasure is the sweetest kind"--and we had no end of a
time for a few hours. We hiked back and got to the ship just in time
to turn in with the other boys; no one had missed us for a wonder, and
everything was all right. Next morning we awoke to find ourselves
slipping down the broad St. Lawrence. Our voyage lasted ten days, and
it sure was "some" trip. The weather was perfect and we had all kinds
of sport, wrestling, boxing, and everything that could be done in a
limited space. The regimental band of the 28th was something that we
were justly proud of, and they supplied the music for our concerts and
dances--yes, we did have dances, even though there were no ladies
present--half of the fellows tied handkerchiefs on their sleeves and
took the ladies' part; their attempts at being ladylike and acting coy
were very laughable. The only thing that really marred our pleasure
was the lifeboat drill; any hour of the day or night when the signal
was given, no matter what we were doing, we must grab our life-belt and
make all possible speed to our place at the lifeboats. At first it was
great fun, but soon we grew to hate it, and we almost wished the ship
would be torpedoed just to make a change. The last three days of our