arracks in time.

BACK TO AULD REEKIE

The very next morning after this interesting day the order came that our
company was to return to Edinburgh, and give place for another company.
My stay at Greenlaw had extended over six months. Now for "Auld Reekie!"
Soon after we arrived there was a great review at the Castle, the Queen
and Prince Albert Victor inspecting the troops.

INTERVIEW WITH THE EMPRESS EUGENIE

I remember being the sergeant in charge of the guard at Holyrood Palace
at the time when the Empress Eugenie was on a visit to Scotland. The
French Fleet accompanied her to Scotland, and lay in the Firth of Forth.
The crews of the ships comprised some fine sailors, who, I think, were
the smartest lot I ever saw. The Empress and her Court stayed a full week
in Edinburgh. I remember one eventful day when a party of two ladies and
four gentlemen, after inspecting Queen Mary's Room, and the old picture
gallery in Holyrood Palace, passed into the guard-room where I was in
command. The ladies advanced towards me, bidding me "Good afternoon." The
gentlemen remained behind. In the best way I could under the
circumstances I asked the two ladies to be good enough to take a seat,
apologising for the rude seat which was all I could offer them. They
courteously accepted the seat, and, at the older lady's request, I sat
down beside them. The talking was confined to one of the ladies, who
seemed, I thought at the time, of a very inquisitive nature. In the first
place she expressed her wish to know something about the British
soldier--how he was fed, whether he was well-clothed, what kind of
rations he was provided with, &c. I gave her my opinion on these points
as far as I could go. She then asked how long I had been a soldier, and I
said only a short time. "Then you cannot tell how you feel when your
comrades are being slain on the battle-field?" "No, ma'am, I cannot; but
there is a man lying down on the guard-bed who can. He went through the
Crimean War." I then advanced to the old soldier's bed, and said,
"Francis, there's a lady here wants to know how you feel when you are on
the battle-field." "Tell her," said Francis, without looking up, "we see
nowt but hell-fire and smoke!" "Well, what does he say?" asked the
inquiring lady, who had, fortunately, remained in the background. It
would not, of course, have done for me to give the answer as it stood, so
I replied, "He says, madam, that he can see nothing but f