_There’s a Legion that never was ’listed, That carries no colours or crest But split in a thousand detachments Is breaking the road for the rest._ · · · · · · · · · · · · · · _We preach in advance of the army, We skirmish ahead of the Church, With never a gunboat to help us, When we’re scuppered and left in the lurch. But we know as the cartridges finish, And we’re piled on our last little shelves, That the Legion that never was ’listed Will send us as good as ourselves._ _RUDYARD KIPLING._ WITH THE LOST LEGION IN NEW ZEALAND PART I CHAPTER I WHY I JOINED THE LOST LEGION I, Richard Burke, at least so I am told, for although present myself I cannot claim a vivid recollection of the fact, was born shortly before the middle of the last century. My father was a major in H.M. army, having the reputation of being a very smart soldier, and was also looked upon as being one of the best sportsmen in the service, as he was justly famous, not only in the saddle, but also as a shot, a fisherman and a general good all-round man. This, together with being descended from a very ancient Irish family, made him popular both in the service and in society. My mother was a member of an old Lancashire county family, most of whose men-folk had for generations worn the Queen’s scarlet, so that from both sword and distaff side I inherited the longing to be a soldier. My paternal grandfather, who had been a distinguished cavalry officer during the Peninsular War, was a big county magnate, and on his death left two large estates, my father inheriting the old family demesne and mansion situated in the north of Ireland; and now I think I have told you quite enough about my family belongings.