‘They are, Daniel,’ answered Marlborough. ‘In spite of everything else that needs to be done, I’m resolved to hunt them down.’
‘I think we’ve identified their leader.’
‘Who is he?’ asked Cardonnel.
‘Matthew Searle of the 5^th Regiment of horse,’ said Daniel. ‘When he deserted, he took a few other malcontents with him as well as some spare horses. He must have gathered the rest of his band after he left camp. One of them was Private Edwin Lock of the 24^th.’
‘How can you be so certain of that?’
‘It turns out that Lock was Searle’s cousin. The two of them deserted on the same day — I checked up from that list you compiled. It has to be more than coincidence.’
‘I agree,’ said Cardonnel.
‘It’s a small mercy, I know,’ Marlborough put in, ‘but at least we’ve had no reports of further outrages.’
‘None that have reached us,’ said Daniel, ‘but then, we’ve moved well away from that area. Searle and his men could still be on the rampage. Given what we know of these renegades, I fancy that they’ll continue their raids until they’re stopped.’
‘They will be, Daniel, I promise you.’
‘I’d like to be there when that happens.’
‘We can’t waste your talents on a routine patrol.’
‘My talents would be put to good use, Your Grace,’ said Daniel. ‘I’d be helping to catch some very dangerous men. Every time they strike, they sew even more hatred of us in the minds of the local people. That irks me.’
‘It irks me as well,’ said Marlborough. ‘I want the French army to fear the sight of redcoats, but not the ordinary folk of Flanders. We need them to accept us.’
‘They won’t do that if these men are allowed to run amok.’
‘This means a lot to you, Daniel, doesn’t it?’ said Cardonnel. ‘You have a personal interest in this.’
‘Yes, I do.’
‘Why is that?’
‘I heard what that lad had been through,’ said Daniel, ‘and it was harrowing. He may have survived but he’ll have nightmares about the raid for the rest of his life. When he heard that I was a British soldier, he flung himself at me like a terrier.’
‘Boys of that age act impulsively,’ noted Marlborough with a half-smile. ‘I once met a young lad named Daniel Rawson with the same kind of raw courage. Whatever happened to him, I wonder?’
‘I heard a rumour that he’d joined the army,’ said Cardonnel.
‘He showed great pluck. We should harness that.’
‘My situation was slightly different,’ said Daniel. ‘Though I lived on a farm, I’d always wanted to be a soldier like my father. I don’t think that Jules will ever end up wearing a uniform he despises. He just wants to be a farmer and live in peace.’
‘We’re striving to achieve that peace,’ Marlborough pointed out, ‘though it obviously doesn’t seem so to this unfortunate lad. Much as I sympathise with your motives, Daniel, I can’t let you ride off with one of the patrols. You must stay with us. We’re striking camp again.’
‘Already, Your Grace?’
‘In response to our move here, the French have shifted their base eastwards over the River Senne. Reports put them at Braine-l’Alleud.’
Daniel knew his geography. ‘That would mean Louvain was under threat,’ he said.
‘Precisely — that’s why we must block their approach. We’ll march through Brussels and set up camp at Terbanck, immediately south of Louvain.’
‘That’s more or less what we did last year, Your Grace.’
‘Yes,’ said Marlborough, sadly, ‘and we may very well find ourselves repeating the manoeuvre again next year. We’re playing a form of chess, Daniel. When they move a piece on the board, we have to counter it at once — until, that is, we can seize the initiative.’
‘And when will that be?’
‘Your guess is as good as mine. What I do know is that King Louis didn’t send such a huge army to the Spanish Netherlands in order for them to sit on their hands indefinitely. Sooner or later, they mean to strike. That’s why you’re of more use to us here than chasing a band of deserters. Who knows?’ he added. ‘They may not even be here any more. They could have returned to England.’
‘Oh, no,’ said Daniel with feeling. ‘They’re still here — I know it.’
Vendome was in the middle of a meal when the report was handed to him. He read it while chewing a mouthful of chicken. Captain Valeran, celebrating his recent promotion, was dining alone with him in the privacy of the tent. Vendome passed the report across to his favourite then turned to the messenger.
‘When did this happen?’ he asked.
‘A few days ago, Your Grace,’ replied the man.
‘How can they be sure that French soldiers were involved?’
‘One of them was killed and left behind. When the fire had died down, they found that his uniform had been burnt to a cinder but the buttons had survived and so had his musket. The buttons and the weapon were both ours. They confirmed that the raid was carried out by French soldiers.’
‘That’s dreadful!’ exclaimed Valeran.
‘It’s more than that, Raoul,’ said Vendome, angrily. ‘It’s utterly barbaric. I want the culprits identified and brought to me. If they’re so fond of flames, I’ll have them cooked over a slow fire.’
‘The raid was a long way away from here.’
‘That makes no difference. It occurred on territory we hold and which we should therefore safeguard.’
He dismissed the messenger with a flick of the hand and the man left the tent. Taking another bite out of the chicken, Vendome brooded, ignoring the gravy that dripped onto his lapel. Valeran passed the report back to him.
‘What are you going to do, Your Grace?’
‘I’ll make every effort to find them as quickly as possible. And I’ll need someone to return to that village.’
‘Why?’
‘They have to be pacified and recompensed,’ said Vendome. ‘No soldiers under my command should ever behave this way. When foraging is required, it’s sometimes necessary to use a little force but there’s never any call for a massacre like this.’
‘The whole farm was razed to the ground.’
‘Speak to the four men who used to work there.’
Valeran was taken aback. ‘You want me to go there?’
‘It’s a sign of how much trust I put in you,’ said Vendome, swilling down his food with some wine. ‘Find out more details of what went on and assure those four men that we’ll make some kind of restitution. We can’t afford to rebuild the whole farm, of course, but a gesture on our part will show them how seriously we take this whole business. Leave with a patrol first thing tomorrow morning.’
‘Yes, Your Grace,’ said Valeran without enthusiasm.
‘But be sure to hurry back — I’ll miss you.’
The captain rallied immediately.
‘What’s his name, Henry?’ asked Daniel.
‘Ralph Higgins.’
‘And who is he?’
‘One of the sutlers,’ said Welbeck. ‘At least, that’s what he claims to be. I think he’s here for another reason altogether.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘It concerns you, Dan.’
When he received the note from his friend, Daniel had hurried across to the area of the camp occupied by the 24^th Foot. Knowing that he would not be summoned on a trivial matter, he met Welbeck outside the sergeant’s tent. Daniel was curious.
‘What’s the fellow doing among the 24^th?’
‘Pretending to sell provisions to the men,’ said Welbeck. ‘He sought me out because someone told him that I was a close friend of a certain Captain Rawson.’
‘Go on.’
‘Higgins was very plausible. He gave me some free tobacco to make me well disposed towards him. He’s an affable devil, I’ll give him that, and I was happy to chat with him for a while. Then he started to ask questions about you, Dan, far too man
y questions. That’s what aroused my suspicions. I think he’s a French spy.’
‘Where is he now?’
‘He’s being held inside.’
‘Then I’ll go in and introduce myself,’ said Daniel.
Crossing to the tent, Daniel pulled back the flap and stepped inside. Welbeck followed him. Ralph Higgins was seated on a stool with an armed soldier beside him. Higgins leapt to his feet at once. He was a tall, well-built man in his thirties with curly brown hair above a swarthy face that wore an expression of mingled surprise and pain. ‘Could someone tell me what’s going on?’ he begged.
‘That’s exactly what we want to ask you,’ said Welbeck.
Higgins spread his arms. ‘I’m a sutler. I follow the army and sell to the soldiers. It’s how I make my living.’
‘Then why did you show such an interest in me?’ asked Daniel. ‘According to Sergeant Welbeck, you peppered him with questions about me. Are you intending to write a biography?’
‘Are you the famous Captain Rawson?’ asked Higgins, beaming. ‘It’s an honour to meet you, sir,’ he went on, offering his hand and giving Daniel a warm handshake. ‘You’re something of a legend in the 24^th, I hear.’
‘And from whom did you hear that?’
‘From just about everyone I’ve spoken to. The first person to mention your name was Lieutenant Ainley.’ The sutler laughed. ‘If ever you do want a biographer, sir, he’s the man for you. It was the lieutenant who told me that Sergeant Welbeck was your good friend.’
‘That’s right,’ said Welbeck, gruffly. ‘I was put on this earth to make sure that no harm comes to Captain Rawson. If I sense any danger — and you reek of it — then I become very suspicious.’
‘I don’t blame you,’ said Higgins, amiably. ‘In fact, I was very much counting on it.’
Welbeck blinked. ‘Were you?’
‘How else could I get to meet Captain Rawson? Now that he’s a member of the Duke’s personal staff, he’s out of reach of humble folk like me. The only way to approach him was through you.’
Welbeck was indignant. ‘Are you saying that I was used?’
‘I meant no harm by it, Sergeant.’
‘And why should you want to meet me?’ asked Daniel.
‘First of all, I wanted to see if you were human.’
‘Oh, I’m very human, Mr Higgins, and I’m full of human failings. For instance, I’m very short-tempered when I find that someone is trying to waste my time.’
‘Forgive me,’ said Higgins with a placatory gesture, ‘I don’t mean to take up your time. I wanted to put a proposition to you, Captain Rawson. The truth of it is that I’m not only a sutler,’ he went on, slipping a hand into his pocket to take out a sheet of paper. ‘I’m something of an artist, as you can see.’
Unfolding the paper, he showed them a portrait he’d drawn. It was only a pencil sketch but it had discernible talent. They were both able to recognise the face smiling up at them.
‘That’s Lieutenant Ainley,’ said Welbeck.
‘It’s a good likeness,’ admitted Daniel.
‘This is only a preliminary drawing,’ explained Higgins. ‘I’ll use it to do a portrait in colour. I’m not a real artist like van Dyck, mark you. A sketch like this only takes me five minutes and I have the painting finished in little more than an hour.’
‘Why are you telling me this, Mr Higgins?’
‘I’m coming to that.’ He glanced at the soldier beside him. ‘Is there any chance that you can get rid of my guard? He intimidates me. I’m not going to run away.’ Welbeck gave a nod and the soldier left the tent. ‘Thank you, Sergeant. Having him stand over me was rather unnerving.’ He smiled hopefully at Daniel. ‘I wondered if I could possibly have the honour of painting a portrait of you, Captain Rawson?’
‘I can’t think why you’d want to do that,’ said Daniel.
‘Then you haven’t heard Lieutenant Ainley in full flow. He idolises you. He was telling me what you did at Blenheim and how you rescued someone from the Bastille in Paris.’
‘I shouldn’t believe everything he says.’
‘Are you interested in my offer?’
‘I’m sorry, Mr Higgins. I must decline. I’m not vain enough to want my portrait painted.’
‘In the time we’ve been talking, I could have done the sketch.’
‘Not without my permission,’ said Daniel, ‘and I’d never give that. It’s a tempting notion but I suggest that you choose someone else. If you can produce these things so swiftly, you must have had a lot of customers.’
‘Oh, I have,’ said Higgins, ruefully. ‘Some of the ugliest men in the army have wanted a pretty painting of themselves. I have to show them what they want to see so I make hideous, old faces look young and handsome. Then, of course,’ he added, dropping his voice and rolling his eyes. ‘There are the other drawings.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Welbeck.
‘You know what soldiers are like, Sergeant. Most of them dream of nothing but drink and women. I sell them both. The beer is in the back of my wagon and the women are on sheets of paper like this.’
‘You’re talking about naked women, aren’t you?’
‘I have to meet a demand.’ His eyes flicked to Daniel. ‘Do you think that you could persuade the captain to sit for me? I won’t charge him a penny for the portrait. It will be a pleasure to paint.’
‘Captain Rawson makes his own decisions.’
‘And you’ve already heard what I think,’ said Daniel, pleasantly.
‘Well, he hasn’t heard what I think,’ warned Welbeck, squaring up to Higgins. ‘I think you have a nerve, coming here like this and using me as bait. It’s unforgivable. If I catch you anywhere near the 24^th again, I’ll kick seven barrels of shit out of you and shove your bleeding sketches down your lying throat. Do you understand?’
‘I apologise profusely, Sergeant,’ said Higgins, composing his features into a mask of contrition. ‘By way of recompense, I’ll happily do a portrait of you as well.’
‘No, you won’t, you cheating, two-faced scoundrel!’
‘Don’t yell at him, Sergeant,’ said Daniel, reproachfully. ‘Mr Higgins came here in good faith and he had a reasonable proposal to put to me.’
‘Only after he tricked me into getting you here,’ said Welbeck.
‘That’s as may be. No real hurt was intended.’
‘Yes, it was — my pride has been wounded.’
‘I had no alternative,’ argued Higgins.
‘In that case,’ returned Welbeck, holding up a fist, ‘I’ll have no alternative but to punch the living daylights out of you.’
‘There’s no need for that,’ said Daniel, stepping between them to protect the sutler. ‘I’m certain that Mr Higgins won’t rely on a device like this again. I suggest that we let him get back to his wagon.’
Higgins was relieved. ‘Thank you, Captain,’ he said. ‘Can’t I make you reconsider my offer?’
‘I’m afraid not.’
‘Would you like to hear my offer again?’ shouted Welbeck, waving a fist in his face. ‘Now, get out before I throw you out.’
Still muttering apologies, Higgins retreated from the tent. Welbeck was livid. He was about to speak when Daniel silenced him with a wave. He peeped out through the gap between the tent flaps.
‘He’s gone,’ noted Daniel. ‘I thought he’d stay to eavesdrop.’
‘You should have let me teach him a lesson.’
‘That will come later, Henry.’
‘I hate being deceived like that.’
‘You should be grateful to Ralph Higgins.’
‘Why…for wasting our time like that? Using me like that makes me seethe. Left to myself, I’d have tipped him headfirst into the deepest latrine.’ He took a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry I dragged you over here for no reason, Dan. I was wrong about the man.’
‘But you weren’t — he’s a spy.’
‘How do you know?’
‘I have done a little
spying myself, you know,’ said Daniel, smiling, ‘and I know that the first thing you need is a glib tongue. Higgins certainly had that. In offering to do a portrait of me, he gave himself away.’
‘Did he?’
‘Who do you imagine would have got that portrait?’
‘I thought he’d do it for you, Dan?’
‘I might have been given the painted version but the original sketch would have been sent off to the enemy. Somebody has designs on me, Henry, and they need to know what I look like.’
Welbeck was lost. ‘If you think he’s a spy, why let him go?’
‘I wanted to test my theory,’ said Daniel. ‘Find six men and we’ll guard the road out of here. When Higgins drives his wagon towards us, we’ll stop him and take him into custody.’
‘How do you know that that’s what he’ll do?’
‘Because,’ said Daniel with a soft chuckle, ‘it’s exactly what I’d do in his shoes.’
Seated in his wagon, Ralph Higgins worked swiftly. After drawing the sketch of Daniel Rawson from memory, he put it on top of the letter he’d just written and folded the two pages tightly until he could insert them into a pouch of tobacco. He then jumped down from the wagon. A soldier who’d been watching strolled casually over to him.
‘Ah, good afternoon, Corporal,’ greeted Higgins.
‘I’ve come for my tobacco,’ said the man.
‘It’s all ready for you.’ Handing him the pouch, Higgins spoke in an undertone. ‘Have this delivered at once. It’s important.’ He took some money from his customer. ‘Thank you, Corporal. It’s always a pleasure to do business with you.’
As soon as the soldier had gone, Higgins clambered up onto the seat of his wagon and picked up the reins. Feeling the flick of leather, the horse responded by pulling the vehicle away. It went past the other sutlers and the baggage wagons until it came to the road out of the camp. Nobody challenged him. Higgins was free. He allowed himself a congratulatory smirk. It soon froze on his face. Six armed soldiers suddenly emerged from the trees to block his way, muskets trained on him. Henry Welbeck was with them.
‘Stop there or we’ll shoot the horse dead,’ he called out.
Higgins was perplexed. ‘What’s the meaning of this, Sergeant?’ he asked, innocently. ‘Have I done something wrong?’
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