On the other side the river, a
long sweep of gentle hills, coloured in the fair colours of
the evening; curving towards the north-east into a beautiful
circle of soft outlines back of the mountain which rose steep
and bold at the water's edge. This mountain was the first of
the group I had seen from my hotel window. Houses and churches
nestled in the curve of tableland, under the mountain. Due
north, the parapet of the fort rising sharply at its northern
angle a few feet from where I sat, hindered my full view.
Southerly, the hills swept down, marking the course of the
river for many a mile; but again from where I sat I could not
see how far. With a sigh of pleasure my eye came back to the
plain and the white tents.
"Is guard duty very disagreeable?" I asked, thinking of
Preston's talk in the morning.
"Why, at mid-day, with the thermometer at 90, it is not
exactly the amusement one would choose," said Mr. Thorold. "I
like it at night well enough."
"What do you do?"
"Nothing, but walk up and down, two hours at a time.
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