hundred and fifteen. ' Peterson was gloating a little behind the
apology. He had not forgotten that poppycock.
'It must have been difficult,' Sean agreed. 'You only had a quarter of
a million to choose from. What about officers?'
'Sorry. Only Friedman here. But I have got you an absolute gem.
Sergeant, major. Snaffled him from the Dorsets. Fellow by the name of
Eccles. First, class, absolutely first, class.
'And Tim Curtis, the one I asked for?'
'Sorry again. They've reopened the gold mines, All engineers are being
pulled out and sent back to work.
'Damn it, I wanted him. What about machine, guns?
'Four Maxims. Bloody lucky to get them.'
'Horses?'
'A bit of a struggle, but you can go down to remount and take your
pick.
Sean went on relentlessly with his demands and questions during the
ride out towards Randfontem. His excitement for the challenge of this
venture rose steadily as they argued and talked.
At last he was taking it seriously. He asked the final and crucial
question as they trotted past the sentries into the great army camp on
the outskirts of Johannesburg.
'Has Acheson decided in which area I will be operating?'
'Yes.' Peterson dropped his voice. 'South, east Transvaal.'
'That's where Leroux is!'
'That's right. The gentleman who met your train the other day. ' Jan
Paulus again!
'Here you are, Courtney.'
A little apart from the main camp stood three lines of white canvas
tents. A field kitchen smoked at the far end and around it were
clustered Scans warriors.
'My God, Peterson. You said a mixed bag! You've robbed the army of
cooks and batmen. And what are those, sailors, Be Jesus ' Peterson
shared thinly and shifted in the saddle.
'Press, ganged them,' he admitted. 'GunDery detail from Repulse.
Ah, here comes your sergeant, major. ' Eccles approached in column of
fours; bull, built, black moustache, a few inches over six feet and all
of it held stiffly erect.
Peterson introduced them and they appraised each other.
'A right scruffy lot we got here, sir.
'We've got a bit of work to do, Eccles.
'That we 'ave, sir.
'Let's get started then.' And they glowered at each other in mutual
respect and liking.
A week later they were ready to go. Saul had named them 'Courtney's
Fighting Scouts.' They were all well mounted, although there were some
interesting styles of horsemanship evident, especially among the
delegates from the Royal Navy.
By bullying the quartermaster Sean had arrived at a standard uniform
similar to that of the Imperial Light Horse; slouch hats, khaki tunics
