East Indiaman by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798333707925
Amazon: B0DCSQ9TTB
Barnesnoble: B0DCSQ9TTB
Goodreads: 217357118
Publisher: Griff Hosker
Published: 2023-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

We moved all night and only stopped at dawn. We had only managed ten miles as I was concerned that Duchess was pulling too much weight. The family could go no further. Even being transported in the cart had tired the woman and two girls. I think part of the exhaustion was the relief that they had been rescued. Ben and Seamus went back up the road to check but there was no pursuit, at least not yet and we could rest.

“Right lads, empty the cart of your bags. We will let Mrs. Hardcastle and the bairns have more room to ride. Get a fire going. Cathcart, Williams, take post a hundred yards up the road. We will spell you when we have a brew going. Mrs. Hardcastle, when the cart is empty put the children in there and we will try to make you comfortable.”

She nodded and then turning to me, kissed me on the cheek, “Thank you, Private Smith. We escaped thanks to your courage. We are in your debt.”

I was embarrassed by the kiss and just mumbled. “It was nothing.”

Seamus laughed, “He half destroys a fort and says it is nothing. Remind me to be with you when you do something that is worthy of note.”

Lieutenant Crozier came over, “The explosion?”

“They gave the alarm, and it was all that I could think of. I threw coals on a powder trail and ran.”

“You were lucky. You could have gone up with it as well.”

Sergeant Grundy came over, “And looking at your bayonet you have learned how to use that, too.”

The rest of the section also made a fuss. After the incident with the pirates and now this I was rapidly becoming the opposite of what I had been when I had lived by the docks. What had changed me?

We ate cold rations. Sliced salted beef and some of Aadyot’s bread. It was filling. I was still replete after the food at the palace. That done I went to Duchess. She was pleased to see me. I was as happy about that as anything. The straw hat also made a welcome return. I took the blankets from the other men and used them to make a comfortable nest. Mrs. Hardcastle climbed in and then the two girls. With her arms around their necks they would be able to sleep and be safe for the lieutenant put Seamus and Dai next to the cart. Their huge presence was comforting.

We marched just fifteen miles that first day and made a camp close to a small village. Mr. Hardcastle looked up the road and asked, “Is this far enough? Will they not try to take us again?”

The lieutenant shook his head, “No, Mr. Hardcastle. For one thing, Private Smith’s action means that they will need to rebuild their fort and we killed too many of his men, including his bodyguard, for him to have any chance of taking us. There will be no pursuit.”

I tended to Duchess again and groomed her as best I could.

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