The Queen's Captain by Peter Watt

Author:Peter Watt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Published: 2020-10-19T02:16:07+00:00

NINETEEN

‘It is suicide to attempt to rescue Captain Campbell!’ Nikolai protested. ‘We do not know where they have taken him, and we do know that they outnumber us. As far as we know, Captain Campbell may be dead by now.’

Ian ignored the Russian’s protests and called Conan over. ‘We will gather up the extra cartridge boxes from the dead and send the rifles back with the wounded. We will also take rations for three days, and all the water we can carry in spare canteens.’

‘I have just the man to lead us,’ Conan said. ‘Private Bobbins was a poacher before he saw the light of redemption and enlisted. He has eyes like a hawk and will be able to find the path they took.’

‘Good show,’ Ian said. ‘With each of our men armed with Tranter revolvers, we have multiplied our firepower. Go and brief him that we wish to follow the bandit gang.’

Conan nodded and walked over to the seven soldiers awaiting orders.

Nikolai was gazing at his senior Indian non-commissioned officer already organising the carts to return the wounded. ‘I will send the rest of my men back as an escort for the wounded,’ he said. ‘But I will go with you in your foolish attempt to rescue Captain Campbell.’

Ian smiled. ‘I remember the last time you made a similar offer, and we got out of a rather tight spot.’

‘We were lucky,’ Nikolai replied. ‘Your company arrived on the beach when the mutineers’ cavalry were on top of us.’

‘I remember it well.’

Ian joined his tiny army. ‘As Sarn’t Major Curry has informed you, we will be following the bandits with the aim of rescuing Captain Campbell. However, I am not going to order you to accompany me, and if any man wishes to return to the city with the wounded, he can step forward now.’

None moved. ‘Would I have to hand back me pistol if I do, sir?’ one of the younger soldiers asked.

‘Yes,’ Ian replied.

‘Then I’m with you, sir,’ he said with a grin. ‘I always wanted a Tranter.’

His reply raised a nervous chuckle from the other six.

‘Sarn’t Major Curry has issued you all with extra ammunition and rations, and time is not on our side. Private Bobbins will lead the way and remember, we move quickly and quietly. Time to go.’

With his final words, Ian’s section moved into the forest. Nikolai fell in beside him and they watched as the former poacher searched for anything that might prove to be a main path for the withdrawing enemy force. He soon picked up signs and the rescue party followed in an extended vee formation. Soon, the sun would set in the hills and Ian knew that they would be in inky darkness. With any luck, the withdrawing bandit gang would never imagine the men they had ambushed would be hunting them and relax their guard to camp for the night. In the pitch black of the forest, any campfire would show. Where the bandits had surprised them in the ambush, they in turn would fall victim to their own tactics.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.