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one night in a large dry-goods box on one of the docks, and, in
searching for a place in the box to lay my head, I laid my hand on
another human, and at daylight discovered him to be a youth of about
my own age. We exchanged experiences, and in a few minutes he
outlined a programme; and, having none of my own, I dropped
naturally into his. He conducted me to a quarter of the city where the
recruiting officers parade the streets, gayly attired in their attractive
uniforms. We accosted one man, who had the special attraction of a
large bunch of gay ribbons flying from his Glengarry cap. We passed
the physical examination, "took the shilling," and were drafted, first to
London, then to a training depot in the south of Kent.
CHAPTER II
THE BEGINNING OF AN EDUCATION

The first discovery I made in the training depot was that I had not, as I
supposed, joined the army at all, but the navy. I was a marine. But there
was no disappointment in the discovery, for I saw in the marine service
a better opportunity to see the world. Here at last was my school, and
schooling was a part of the daily routine. In the daily exercises of the
gymnasium, I was made to feel very keenly by the instructors the
awkwardness of my body; but I was so thrilled with the joy of the
class-room, that it took a good deal of forcing to interest me in the
handling of guns, bayonets, the swinging of clubs, vaulting of horses,
and other gymnasium exercises. I could think only in the terms of the
education I most keenly desired. This was my first source of trouble.
Whatever else a soldier may be, he is a soldier first. His chief business
in life is to be a killer--a strong, intelligent, professional killer; and
nearly all energies of instruction are bent to give him that kind of
power.
The depot is on the edge of the sea, and the sea breezes with six hours a
day of drill, gave me, as it gives all recruits at that stage, an abnormal
appetite, so that the most of the Queen's pay went for additional rations.
I made rapid progress in school, and I attended all lectures, prayer
meetings, religious assemblies and social gatherings, to exercise a
talent which I already possessed, of giving voice to my religious beliefs.
But my Irish dialect was badly out of place, and it took a good deal of
courage to take part in these things.
But more embarrassing than my attempts at public speech were my
attempts to keep up with my squad in the gymnasium and on the parade
ground. My fellow recruits were thinking in the terms of drill only, and
I was thinking in the terms of my new-found opportunity for an
education. My awkwardness made me the subject of much ridicule and
good-natured jest. It also earned for me a brief sojourn in the awkward
squad. The gymnasium was open every evening for exercise and
amusement. The first time I ventured in to get a little extra drill on my
own account, I had an experience of a kind that one is not likely to
forget. My drill sergeant happened to be there. I saw him engaged in a
whispered conference with one of the gymnasium instructors. A few
minutes later the instructor came to me and urged me to enter the

boxing contest which was going on in the middle of the floor, and
which was the favourite amusement of the evening. I had no desire for
such amusement, and frankly told him so; but he was not to be put off.
He said, "There is a rule of the gym, that men who come here in the
evening, who are very largely given their own way, are nevertheless
obliged to do what they are told; and you may escape serious trouble by
attending to my orders."
I still demurred, but was forced to the ring side, a roped enclosure, with
a pair of boxing gloves and an instructor to take care of the proceedings.
When the gloves were fastened on my hands, I noticed that my
opponent was one of the assistant instructors, and it occurred to me that
I was in for a thrashing; and I certainly was.
They must have made up their minds that a good thrashing would wake
me up from the point of view of the parade ground, and the assistant
instructor proceeded to administer it. I knew nothing whatever of
boxing, and could put up but a weak defence. I was knocked down
several times, one of my eyes partly closed, and my nose smashed, and
one of my arms rendered almost useless.