regimental headquarters. In another five months the riding master and his staff would make dragoons of these greenheads, as they had done many times before.
The trouble was, they didn’t have five months. In seven weeks they were due to sail for Calcutta, and there would be little they could do aboard ship by way of training save for musketry and sword practice. He would land with a half-drilled troop, at best.
‘But that should not trouble you,’ said the commanding officer, indicating a chair and pouring two glasses of sherry. ‘You have done admirably in filling the ranks. I had not thought it would be so difficult. The adjutant’s efforts in that direction were commendable, but his bringers netted a very feeble catch in the end. And your enlisting so many from one town must be a strength, I think. There ought to be a quicker fellow feeling.’
‘I believe there will be, Colonel. And three of them are already showing well — one that is paying with the drum, too, though it was scarcely much of an offence.’
Sir Ivo Lankester nodded approvingly. ‘You’ll have time enough when we get to India. I’ll not expect your troop at regimental drill for a full six months.’
‘That will be sufficient, Colonel. They’ll come on capitally as soon as they’ve passed out of riding school.’
‘Good, good. How many have you lost, by the way?’
‘One only, sir. He coughed up blood each time they did anything strenuous.’
Lankester sighed. ‘He’ll be dead sooner outside than in, but it can’t be helped. Now, I’m afraid I’m going to ask you to do one more thing, and it’s only right that
The commanding officer’s courtesy was such that Hervey was already disarmed. What could possibly vex him?
‘I have decided that we shall take three dozen or so troop-horses to India, as well as all the chargers. I want the non-commissioned officers to be properly mounted. I know it will be a month at least before they’re used to the climate, but better in the long run we begin with a well-mannered horse out of condition than what the Indian garrison might leave us.’
‘I saw some fine horses in India, Colonel, but I agree there is no certainty of our having them at once.’
‘It seems to me that the whole business will come to nought, however, if the horses don’t travel well. Lord knows how many you and I have seen that were served ill by foul transports.’
‘Indeed, Colonel.’
‘Barrow says you took your charger there and back.’
Hervey smiled. ‘I did. We sailed both ways in a frigate, with an uncommonly obliging captain.’
‘Then you will know better than any what is to be done to a ship to make her fit to transport horses over so great a distance. And I should very much deem it a favour if you would supervise the making ready of the Indiamen which are to take us. As I understand it, they’ll be at Tilbury in a fortnight’s time for refitting.’
Hervey saw now why the colonel had been so concerned to make the approach himself, for Tilbury took him away from his troop — such that it could be called at this stage — but also, and more important, from his family in Horningsham. Yet the military necessity Colonel Lankester had spelled out with perfect sense, and it was to Hervey’s advantage, too, that his own charger be carried in best condition. ‘Of course I shall be able to do it, Colonel …’
‘I know you would have liked a lengthy furlough before embarkation — as the rest of us — but there is no reason why you should not take leave when the job is done, and make the passage by a later ship.’
Hervey was much encouraged by the commanding officer’s solicitude. ‘Thank you, Colonel. I am mighty grateful, but unless something untoward occurs, I should want to sail with the others. Besides ought else, Calcutta will be’ — he smiled — ‘a heady place, I think, and if I am not there with my troop from the outset all manner of things might happen.’
‘Admirable, Hervey, admirable. I should not have thought of you any the less, however, had you opted for the other course. And if circumstances change between now and then you must adjust your plan without fear that any shall think ill of it.’
‘Again, thank you, Colonel.’
‘Well, then — let us to the mess. Joynson says he has found some very fine burgundy, and there’s woodcock. The general will be joining us.’
Next morning, as he was busying himself for the journey to Tilbury, Hervey received an envelope bearing, on the reverse, an embossed ducal coronet. Inside was a double-thick demi-octavo card:
Hervey wrote at once to accept, sent for Private Johnson to arrange despatch of the letter, and then took the regimental phaeton to the Red Lion in order to post to Tilbury.
His journey, overnight, was a not altogether comfortable affair, but on arriving at the port he was soon restored by the arrangements he found. The Honourable East India Company, being an institution of longer lineage than the army, had at least as many regulations, but as it was a company of merchants, the purpose to which all the regulations were drawn up was commercial. The arrangements put in hand by the Company for the regiment’s shipping to India — for it was the Court of Directors who paid the costs of a King’s regiment in India — were, in the main, sound. Two good-sized ships had been engaged, one for the major part of the regiment, the other for the horses and their attendants. But the surplus capacity was to be filled by general merchandise, and therefore any additional space requested meant a corresponding diminution of that profitable extra — not a matter the agent would be inclined to let pass easily.
Hervey asked if he might first look over the transport assigned to the horses. This was arranged without too much difficulty, although the captain was not in port and all questions were therefore dealt with by the first officer, who was clearly in fear of his master’s wrath. She seemed a well-found ship, and clean. Hervey asked if he might see the plans for the stallage.
‘I think you will find they comply with the horse guards’ usual requirements,’ said the agent.
Hervey did not know the regulation size of a stall. Those he had seen in the Peninsula hardly seemed to have the stamp of any sort of order.
‘Six feet by two feet six is the allowance. Here is the plan for the lower deck, which is where they are all to be had.’
Hervey sighed to himself. Jessye had had twelve feet square on the
‘Yes,’ replied the agent, without needing to check the drawing. ‘Two feet, as specified, in order to permit of cleaning out droppings and soiled bedding.’
Hervey considered how best to make his proposal. ‘When I took my mare to India, she had a loose box which could be turned into a standing stall in case of foul weather. But we soon found that she chafed badly, fore and rear, as the ship rolled. So we let her have her full length back and trusted to her own balance — and she did not suffer in the slightest. I think it would be very much the better for them if we did away with the gangway and extended the stalls to the side. It would be cheaper to build that way too, I would think.’
The agent heard this last with interest, but then remembered the regulation. ‘My understanding is that the gangway is absolutely necessary to do the work of cleaning, Captain Hervey.’
‘Not
‘Then so it shall be, Captain Hervey. Would these spare stalls need slings, too?’
‘None of the stalls need slings. They cause far more damage than good. Four or five only, for sick or injured horses. With the extra length of stall they’ll keep themselves up well enough, believe me.’
The agent was all delight at the further economy.
