winning. Still, we
can't expect to win always, and we have not lost to Bedford for
three years till now. I had perhaps the unique experience of
being in a team which never lost a Bedford match. In 1912-13,
when I got my colours, we drew 28 points all; in 1913-14 we won,
16 to 15; and last year, 32 to 16. Well, I would have given
anything for the School to have got home a fourth time against
old Bedford, but it was not to be.

The sudden drop in temperature during the last fortnight has
affected most people here. I have escaped without any sort of
cold, though nine-tenths of the officers and men have been down
with chills.

My mare has developed a devil of a temper of late, and bites and
kicks like anything--a sign of exuberant vigour. Fortunately she
gets on well with my other horse, and they don't "strafe" each
other in the stable. To get horses in the same stable on good
terms with each other is largely a question of feeding them at
the same time. My second horse, which my servant rides when we
are on the move, is a jolly little chestnut, very strong and
hardy, with a magnificent long tail. I ride him and the mare on
alternate days. Horses are ridiculous creatures. They will eat
all sorts of things, even wood, mud, and pieces of coal, as if
from sheer cussedness. It can't be because they are hungry, as
they get plenty to eat in the way of oats, hay, dry clover, etc.
Sometimes, as if from devilment, they will roll in the mud a few
minutes after they have been nicely groomed. Some of our
regiments have a lot of mules, which are given to fearful
brayings--a sound which is a cross between a horse's whinny, a
donkey's hee-haw and an elephant's trumpeting. Mules bite and
kick each other continually, but they will do any amount of work
when so inclined.

_November 29th, 1915._

I see that the Welshmen are coming out. May they strafe the
Boches to the wide! I hope the Cymry will prove themselves worthy
successors to Owain Glyndwr and all the other grand old chiefs
who have given us such a name in arms. Times have changed, and
to-day, instead of smiting your foe with a club or a sword, you
"strafe" him with gas-shells and machine-guns. The old way was
the best, but the natural instinct of all thi