The Sabre's Edge

very surely.'

Hervey said nothing for the moment. A grand fight of cavalry, on the scale of Waterloo - he had never imagined such a thing again. But he was unsure of more than just how they would tempt Durjan Sal out. 'It's a fair prospect indeed, sir. But I'm afraid I do not see its purpose, except to employ the cavalry actively - and I am all in favour of that.'

The brigadier smiled in a satisfied sort of way. Tm glad you don't immediately see the purpose, for that means Durjan Sal likely as not shan't.' He sipped at his coffee, clearly relishing the ingenious-ness of his plan. ^cDo you think that Durjan Sal is a man who would prefer to fight to the death rather than strike his colours?'

Hervey furrowed his brow. 'On that I have no true insight. I should judge, perhaps, that since he is a usurper he is at heart a hazarder, and therefore unlikely to stick.'

'Just so. And for as long as he has his cavalry he will know - or rather believe - that if the fortress were to fall he could make good his own escape.'

Hervey nodded. 'I would imagine that, yes.'

'Then what would be the purpose in destroying his cavalry?'

A smile crept across Hervey's face.

The brigade-major was not yet certain of his own comprehension. 'Do you mean, sir, that Durjan Sal would be obliged to seek terms rather than risk a fight over the walls?'

'I mean exactly that, Harris. We might never need a breach.' He turned back to Hervey. 'Now, you have ridden the whole of the ground, and seen inside the walls. Guns: where might our decoy be best placed to tempt him out?'

Hervey's brow furrowed again. 'I should need a little time to consider that, sir. I made some plans and sketches—'

'Good, good! I want you to consider it carefully and let me have your opinion. But your best estimate today, if you please. And by all means go and consult your sketches. But keep the notion to yourself, Hervey. Loose tongues would be the death of it.'

When he returned to the Sixth's camp that evening, Hervey found that the officers had already dined. Private Johnson was therefore despatched to bring food to his tent - hot food, for there was a distinct chill in the air already and the brazier was only just lit.

'Serjeant-major says 'e'd like a word when tha were back,' Johnson remembered, as he pulled open the tent flap.

'Well, you may tell him I'm at home. Did Corporal Stray arrive with rum, by the way?'

'Oh ay, sir. T' quartermaster made an issue after stables.'

'Good. He was also meant to be bringing some bottled fruit for the mess. You might see if any has survived.'

'Ah, so tha did know about it then?'

'The fruit? Why shouldn't I?' 'No, I mean ... it sounded as though th'd 'eard what'd 'appened.' 'Happened?' 'Ay, to Corporal Stray.' 'For heaven's sake, man!'

'Corporal Stray got attacked on 'is way 'ere. They killed t'bullocks pullin' 'is cart.'

Hervey looked almost alarmed. 'And is he all right?'

'Oh ay. T'two that were wi' 'im said 'e just stood on t' box like 'e were at sword exercise. Better than Collins they said 'e were. 'E killed 'alf a dozen of 'em an' then they ran off. T' Jhauts, I mean.'

Hervey smiled. He was not in the least surprised. Corporal Stray's resolute immobility atop the hackery box might have been in part the product of his great bulk, but it was in equal part the action of an old soldier. 'The hero of the wet canteen. I hope he gets a serjeancy for it.'

'I'll be gooin', then.' 'I'd be obliged.'

A few minutes later, Serjeant-Major Armstrong came to the tent.

'Come in, Geordie; sit down. There's nothing to eat but I can offer you some good Bordoo,' said Hervey, smiling again. 'Though I gather rum is the celebratory drink tonight.'

'You heard, then? Stray? I'd 'ave given aught to see it. The big fat bugger!'

Hervey laughed. 'When was he last on parade, do you think?'

'Mounted? Lord knows. He'd never have lasted if old Soggy hadn't been quartermaster.'

Hervey poured two glasses of claret and took his seat again. 'Otherwise a quiet day, I gather?'

'Ay, sir. Farriers have been busy, and the saddlers too.'

'Well, here's to Stray and all the stout hearts like him.'

Armstrong raised his glass. 'To stout hearts.'

Hervey refilled it at once, and his own. 'Johnson seemed to think there was something in particular you had?'

Armstrong frowned and nodded. 'Ay, there is. I went to see the sappers this morning, as I said. This business of not being able to dig out a tunnel - they're not doing it right.'

'Oh?' Hervey looked sceptical, even allowing for Armstrong's aptness in all field matters.

'I talked to the artificer for a fair while and he said they'd wanted to drive tunnels under the main bastions, but they couldn't go more than two hundred yards without ventilating shafts. Then the captain came - a grand man, he were, not in the least bit bothered talking to me - and he said they'd started to drive one under the west bastion but the Jhauts had spied the venting shaft and driven it in.'

'I fear it's the same the whole way round. The Jhauts will be very wary of mining. The trouble is, the sappers can't begin close enough anywhere. And as soon as it's known they're digging, they'll blow the tunnels in by countermines. The galleries are already made. I've seen them.'

Armstrong nodded. 'Ay, but these engineers aren't miners. We drove some long galleries in Hebburn pit and got the air in. Longer than two hundred yards - a lot longer.'

Hervey looked even more sceptical. 'But that would have been with steam pumps, surely?'

'Not when we were digging. We got a draught going with a furnace. Anyway, I told the captain all about it, and he said he'd think on it.'

Hervey was still doubtful. 'But how much further do you think they could go, then?'

'Well, twice as far as they reckon they can now.'

'Twice as far?' Hervey's disbelief was clear.

But it did not dismay Armstrong. 'Ay, at least.'

Hervey said nothing, seeming rapt in thought.

'Look, sir, why not let me lend a hand to them? The sappers, I mean. There's nothing that Collins can't do with the troop as things stand. It's nowt but working parties and escorts. It'd be good for him to have some practice.'

Hervey was not easily persuaded, though he agreed Collins was more than up to the job, especially on what seemed increasingly like garrison duties but in the field. 'I seem to recall you believed colliery a sight more dangerous than life in regimentals.'

Armstrong pulled a face. 'Aw, come on sir. I no more ran from being a collier than I have from anything.'

Hervey winced at his own crassness. It was the loss of father and brothers - and indirectly his mother - that had sent young Armstrong to the recruiting serjeant. 'No, I hadn't meant to—'

'And in any case, there's no firedamp here in 'Indoostan.'

That, too, was true. 'Very well,' said Hervey, with a smile that spoke volumes for his admiration of his old friend's spirit. 'I'll speak to the major, and if he agrees I'll speak then to the sappers.'

Later that morning, after watering, an orderly arrived at the Sixth's headquarters with a most imperative request from Brigadier Anburey, the chief engineer. Joynson at once sent for Hervey.

'What is E Troop about now, Hervey?' The major's tone was just a fraction weary, but a request from a senior officer, even of engineers, was not a thing to be brushed off lightly.

'I'm sorry, sir. I had meant to speak with you about it at orders today, but it seems Armstrong's assistance is more pressing than I'd thought.'

'Just so. You'd better sit down and tell me of it.'

Hervey hardly thought it a long enough story to require comfort, but he obliged the major nevertheless. Then