s
campaigning business. It may be very pleasant over a tolerable good
road and plenty to eat, but I don't like having to climb these hills and
to exist on short commons."

The return march was not without its dangers, for the rebel tribes were
on the watch to attack any weak convoy, tempted by the plunder they
hoped to obtain, and aware that the British were not likely to follow
them far into their mountain fastnesses; indeed, several persons who had
incautiously wandered out of the line of march were cut off and
murdered.

The events of the return march need not be described. It was managed
with the same skill as the advance, although the troops suffered
somewhat from the storms of rain to which they were exposed.

With no small satisfaction the men of the Naval Brigade returned to
their respective ships, whose crews, however, had to remain to assist in
the embarkation of the troops and stores.

"Why, Mr Blewitt, you appear to have lost two stone in weight!"
observed the first lieutenant when Billy made his appearance on board.

"Yes, sir," answered Billy, with a rueful countenance. "I believe I've
lost three stone; but I intend to do my best to make up for it now I've
got back to the ship."

Billy did not fail to keep to his intentions, and the rest of the mess
declared that he ought to pay a double subscription, as he certainly
consumed more than any two others among them.

"So would you if you fellows had gone through what I have done,"
answered Billy, and he gave, not for the first time, an account of the
hardships he had endured, the weight he had carried on his shoulders,
his hard fare, the steep hills he had climbed, and the abrupt descents
down which he had had to make his way.

The _Bellona_ remained with other ships of war until the troops had gone
and the last of the stores had been embarked, when once more Annesley
Bay was left to itself, in its original solitude. With a cheerful song
the crew tramped round and round at the capstan, steam was got up, and
the _Bellona_, proceeding out of the bay, steered for Aden, where
Captain Rogers hoped to obtain intelligence of the _Empress_.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. An account of the origin of the war, and of many interesting
particulars connected with it, will be found in "Our Soldiers, or
Anecdotes of the Campaigns and Gallant Deeds of the British Army,"
published by Griffith and Farran.