Read Online Hervey 07 - An Act Of Courage by Allan Mallinson - Free Book Online
Authors: Allan Mallinson
Ads: Link
wouldn’t have bought her twelve months ago, not that colour.’
Edmonds tilted his head. ‘I confess I gave the colour not a deal of thought, Colonel.’
Lord George smiled ruefully. ‘I fear there are many who still would, Edmonds. I don’t believe the scale of the enterprise is as yet understood by one half of the army.’
To Edmonds, who had thought of nothing but the calamity of Corunna, and its aftermath, the notion was astonishing. ‘Even going as we have, it will be six months before we can call ourselves ready.’
‘We don’t have that long,’ said Lord George, emphatically.
Edmonds said nothing. It would take as long as it took; and so far, six months was the best that anyone could imagine.
Lord George stood contemplating the dun mare a while before resuming the inspection. ‘What of the adjutant?’ he asked, giving the busy tail in the next stall a wide berth.
‘Tipping? In the daily administration of the regiment he is not at all bad, though I think he is deficient in true zeal. If we are to take to the field again I believe you might find him wanting.’
Lord George held up a hand. ‘I am by no means dismayed by that. I intend bringing a man from the Royals as soon as may be.’
Edmonds nodded. ‘Tipping may be glad to sell out. I presume he may exchange with your man?’
‘That might be arranged, yes. I would not hear of any turn-out, mind, but I should be obliged to have my own man.’
‘Of course, Colonel.’ Edmonds knew he would do the same. It was fortunate they did not have to shift a crack man.
The duty dragoon came out of the feed room, saw Edmonds, and the stranger, and drew his arms to his side. ‘Morning, Cap’n Edmonds, sir.’
‘Good morning, Johnson. All sound after exercise?’
‘One o’m’s got t’gripes – dry soort.’
Lord George looked puzzled. ‘What was that, Edmonds?’ he whispered as best he could.
‘One of the horses has dry colic, Colonel. This is Johnson, who was in my troop until last year. He comes from the infernal regions.’
‘Indeed?’
Johnson advanced, halted after a fashion, and stood awkwardly, feet together but the rest of the body at ease. His uniform was patched even more than Crampton’s and Hardy’s, and he was wearing a short smock.
Lord George was clearly intrigued. ‘What has been the treatment, Johnson?’
Before Johnson could answer, Edmonds thought to avoid any misunderstanding; he knew his man only too well. ‘Johnson, your commanding officer.’
Johnson shifted his weight slightly, which passed as a bracingup. ‘Mr Knight gev ’im a clyster, Colonel, an’ stuck ’is ’and up ’er an’ pulled out all t’mard ’e could. Like rock, it were.’
Lord George nodded, confident he had understood the import, if not every word. ‘Very well. And you, Private Johnson: what were you able to come away with from Corunna?’
‘Nowt at all, Colonel.’ Johnson sounded surprised. ‘We ’ad a few things we’d found on t’way – a bit o’ silver an’ that – but t’infantry’d got all t’best.’
Edmonds sighed. ‘Johnson, I believe the colonel meant what of your own equipment .’
‘Oh, nowt, Colonel. Just me sword an’ carbine, an’ what ah stood up in.’
‘And have you received any money?’
‘I’ve ’ad all me pay, Colonel. An’ ten pounds for us lost things – me razor an’ that. But they ’aven’t taken for me diffies yet.’
Lord George looked at Edmonds, who turned to Johnson again.
‘Johnson, I cannot believe you have not been told at least five times: there will be no stoppages for deficiencies arising from the exigencies of Corunna.’
‘No, ah knows that, sir. But t’quartermaster says ’e’s not just gooin to write-off ev’rythin’.’
Lord George Irvine, impressed by this evidence of zealous interior economy, was nevertheless puzzled by the method. How were the quartermasters going to determine what were legitimate field losses and what were not? ‘How so,
Edmonds tilted his head. ‘I confess I gave the colour not a deal of thought, Colonel.’
Lord George smiled ruefully. ‘I fear there are many who still would, Edmonds. I don’t believe the scale of the enterprise is as yet understood by one half of the army.’
To Edmonds, who had thought of nothing but the calamity of Corunna, and its aftermath, the notion was astonishing. ‘Even going as we have, it will be six months before we can call ourselves ready.’
‘We don’t have that long,’ said Lord George, emphatically.
Edmonds said nothing. It would take as long as it took; and so far, six months was the best that anyone could imagine.
Lord George stood contemplating the dun mare a while before resuming the inspection. ‘What of the adjutant?’ he asked, giving the busy tail in the next stall a wide berth.
‘Tipping? In the daily administration of the regiment he is not at all bad, though I think he is deficient in true zeal. If we are to take to the field again I believe you might find him wanting.’
Lord George held up a hand. ‘I am by no means dismayed by that. I intend bringing a man from the Royals as soon as may be.’
Edmonds nodded. ‘Tipping may be glad to sell out. I presume he may exchange with your man?’
‘That might be arranged, yes. I would not hear of any turn-out, mind, but I should be obliged to have my own man.’
‘Of course, Colonel.’ Edmonds knew he would do the same. It was fortunate they did not have to shift a crack man.
The duty dragoon came out of the feed room, saw Edmonds, and the stranger, and drew his arms to his side. ‘Morning, Cap’n Edmonds, sir.’
‘Good morning, Johnson. All sound after exercise?’
‘One o’m’s got t’gripes – dry soort.’
Lord George looked puzzled. ‘What was that, Edmonds?’ he whispered as best he could.
‘One of the horses has dry colic, Colonel. This is Johnson, who was in my troop until last year. He comes from the infernal regions.’
‘Indeed?’
Johnson advanced, halted after a fashion, and stood awkwardly, feet together but the rest of the body at ease. His uniform was patched even more than Crampton’s and Hardy’s, and he was wearing a short smock.
Lord George was clearly intrigued. ‘What has been the treatment, Johnson?’
Before Johnson could answer, Edmonds thought to avoid any misunderstanding; he knew his man only too well. ‘Johnson, your commanding officer.’
Johnson shifted his weight slightly, which passed as a bracingup. ‘Mr Knight gev ’im a clyster, Colonel, an’ stuck ’is ’and up ’er an’ pulled out all t’mard ’e could. Like rock, it were.’
Lord George nodded, confident he had understood the import, if not every word. ‘Very well. And you, Private Johnson: what were you able to come away with from Corunna?’
‘Nowt at all, Colonel.’ Johnson sounded surprised. ‘We ’ad a few things we’d found on t’way – a bit o’ silver an’ that – but t’infantry’d got all t’best.’
Edmonds sighed. ‘Johnson, I believe the colonel meant what of your own equipment .’
‘Oh, nowt, Colonel. Just me sword an’ carbine, an’ what ah stood up in.’
‘And have you received any money?’
‘I’ve ’ad all me pay, Colonel. An’ ten pounds for us lost things – me razor an’ that. But they ’aven’t taken for me diffies yet.’
Lord George looked at Edmonds, who turned to Johnson again.
‘Johnson, I cannot believe you have not been told at least five times: there will be no stoppages for deficiencies arising from the exigencies of Corunna.’
‘No, ah knows that, sir. But t’quartermaster says ’e’s not just gooin to write-off ev’rythin’.’
Lord George Irvine, impressed by this evidence of zealous interior economy, was nevertheless puzzled by the method. How were the quartermasters going to determine what were legitimate field losses and what were not? ‘How so,
Similar Books
