oon understood that I had only spent one day and
one night in the black-hole, and that the remainder of my sentence had
been remitted. I was hailed by all my comrades, as if I had been cast
on, and escaped from, some desolate island; and, having macadamized my
inward man with six penny pies, out of the shilling I had received from
the old pudding-woman--of which I was still possessed--I was soon as fit
for fun again as the best of them.

But, the regiment being now about to embark for Guernsey, I will
commence our voyage in a new chapter.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[3] The object of government in forming these "experimental regiments,"
as they were called, was to relieve parishes of boys, from the age of
ten to sixteen, who were allowed to enlist, on the parish paying the
expenses of their journey to some recruiting depot. Each of these
regiments was composed of a thousand boys, who made such excellent
soldiers, that it appears extraordinary no such plan was ever again
adopted; the three regiments here spoken of having been the only corps
formed in this way.

[Some additional particulars, obtained from the War Office records, will
be found in the introduction to this edition.--ED.]

[4] Soldiers were then paid once in each month.--ED.

CHAPTER III.

We had received orders to hold ourselves in readiness to embark--as I
then imagined, for foreign parts; and the idea made my heart bound for
joy. In a few days we embarked on board a small sloop, at about four
o'clock in the afternoon, and in an hour after got under weigh. When the
sun had retired to his western chamber, the sky looked gloomy, and
indicated wind; and, in another hour, there arose so terrific a gale,
that we were obliged to put the tarpaulins over the hatches, to protect
us against the large seas which broke over us. The scene was enough to
frighten a person of greater courage than I possessed. There were
soldiers crying--women screaming--children squalling--sailors
swearing--the storm all the while continuing to increase, until at
length it blew a perfect hurricane; the rain came down in torrents, and
the vivid lightning's flash exhibited the fear depicted on every
countenance. At this juncture a poor frightened soldier mustered up
courage enough to ask the captain or master of the sloop, if there was
any danger. At this question every ear was open, and the son of Neptune
gruffly replied, "Danger, shipmate! If the storm