Flashman And The Redskins by Fraser George Macdonald

Author:Fraser, George Macdonald [Fraser, George Macdonald]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Humor, Adventure, Historical, Military
ISBN: 9780007217175
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2006-04-14T23:00:00+00:00

I imagined his reading it was just a brag, to show how famous he was, but then he told me where he'd come by the book. The previous autumn, he'd been one of a rescue party chasing a band of Jicarillas who had wiped out a small caravan and carried off a Mrs White and her baby; Carson's folk hadn't been able to save her life, or the baby's, although they'd hammered the redsticks handsomely, and afterwards, in the dead woman's effects, he had come across the novelette. It troubled him.

“If she had read this book,” says he very seriously, “with all these tall tales about me, then when she was carried off and knew I was coming in pursuit, her hopes must have been high that I would perform some miracle and rescue her and her child. Would you think that?”

I said I supposed she might. What then?

“I failed her,” says he, and there were absolute tears in his eyes. “She trusted in me. How bitter her disappointment must have been. My heart is on the ground when I think of that poor lady and her little one, praying for a rescue that I was powerless to perform.”

That was the way he talked, I may say, when he was in what he thought of as educated company. Well, I supposed I was meant to console him, but damned if I knew what to say; I racked my brains trying to think what some true-blue hypocrite like Arnold would have coughed up, and was inspired.

“You didn't write that book, Kit,” says ministering angel Flashy, “so t'wasn't your fault if she had false hopes. And if she did-well, as one who's been in mortal danger of popping his clogs before now, I can tell you it's a sight better to hope you're going to escape than to know you're going to die.” Which is very true, by the way. “Why, a few years ago, my wife was kidnapped by beastly Borneo pirates, and she said later that she was kept alive by her belief that I would save her.”

“And you did?” says he, very attentive.

The temptation to make a brave tale of it was strong, but once again, with those gentle eyes on me, I found myself telling the truth-much more of this little bastard's company and I'd finish up a Christian. “Ah … well, yes, in a manner of speaking. I got her out of it, all right … but to be fair, she saved us both, in the end.” I told him briefly how we'd hidden in that garden in Antananarivo, and Elspeth hadn't so much as squeaked when a searcher's boot had cracked her finger. *(*see Flashman's Lady)

He shook his head in admiration, and says: “Your wife's a gallant lady. I'd admire to meet her.” There was a questioning look in his eyes which I thought odd, and slightly uncomfortable, so I changed the subject.

“Anyway, the point about Mrs White is that it's better to die in hope

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