The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tale of a Trooper, by Clutha N. Mackenzie

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Title: The Tale of a Trooper

Author: Clutha N. Mackenzie

Release Date: September 6, 2008 [EBook #26548]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALE OF A TROOPER ***

Produced by Al Haines

ON ACTIVE SERVICE SERIES

THE TALE OF A TROOPER

BY CLUTHA N. MACKENZIE

TROOPER, WELLINGTON MOUNTED RIFLES, N.Z.E.F.

LONDON: JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD

NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY

MCMXXI

_Printed in Great Britain by Ebenezer Baylis & Son,_

_Trinity Works, Worcester._

CONTENTS

CHAP.

I MAC BECOMES A TROOPER
II MAC EMBARKS FOR OVERSEAS
III SORROWS AND JOYS IN A TROOPSHIP
IV LAZY SHIPBOARD LIFE
V ASHORE AGAIN
VI DAYS IN THE DESERT
VII MAC GOES TO CAIRO
VIII MAC TOURS IN COMFORT
IX MAC LUNCHES WITH THE SULTAN
X MAC DISAPPROVES OF BEING LEFT
XI MAC LEAVES FOR ACTIVE SERVICE
XII GALLIPOLI AT LAST
XIII MAC JOINS IN THE WAR
XIV A WEARY DAY
XV MAC IS SLEEPY
XVI VARIOUS MISFORTUNES
XVII AN OUTPOST AFFAIR
XVIII SUMMER DRAGS ON
XIX MAC TAKES A CHANGE
XX ANZAC AWAKES
XXI NO. 3, TABLE TOP AND SUVLA BAY
XXII THE NIGHT BATTLE ON CHANAK BAIR
XXIII MAC IS WOUNDED
XXIV THE END OF MAC'S CAMPAIGNING DAYS
XXV HOMEWARD

THE TALE OF A TROOPER

CHAPTER I

MAC BECOMES A TROOPER

A winter storm raged across the ridges and tore in violent gusts down
the gullies, carrying great squalls of fleecy snow. The wind swept the
flakes horizontally through the gap where the station track ran an
irregular course through the bush; and, though but a short hour had
passed since the ominous mass of black cloud had swept over the early
morning sky, the ground was already thickly powdered.

A ramshackle hut stood beside the track where it entered the bush, and
in a rough lean-to, where firewood, tools and saddlery were piled more
or less indiscriminately, two unkempt station ponies, saddled and
bridled, stood in somnolent attitudes. Huddled hens sheltered from the
searching b