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And in the late suers after eating, stood up, casually untied his breechclout, and let it fall Then waited, grinning, while Grey fought his way out of shirt and breeches

They’d swu; the Indian was clean, his skin no longer greasy And yet he see of venison Grey had wondered whether it was the man’s race that was responsible or only his diet?

"What do I taste like?" he’d asked, out of curiosity

Manoke, absorbed in his business, had said soht equally have been soht better of pursuing this line of inquiry Besides, if he did taste of beef and biscuit or Yorkshire pudding, would the Indian recognize that? For that matter, did he really want to know, if he did? He did not, he decided, and they enjoyed the rest of the evening without benefit of conversation

He scratched the small of his back where his breeches rubbed, unco sunburn He’d tried the native style of dress, seeing its convenience, but had scorched his bu in the sun one afternoon and thereafter resorted to breeches, not wishing to hear any further jocular re such pleasant but disjointed thoughts, he’dthat there were many more soldiers in evidence than there had been when he’d left Dru,itself felt His own steps fell naturally into the beat of the druhtened and felt the ar hilanced involuntarily up the hill and saw the flags fluttering above the large inn that served as field headquarters Wolfe had returned

Grey found his own quarters, reassured To his hair forcibly untangled, cohtly bound up in a for his sunburned skin, went to present hieneral, as courtesy deht--Wolfe was about his own age, had fought at Culloden, been a junior officer under Cun--but did not know hih

"Grey, is it? Pardloe’s brother, are you?" Wolfe lifted his long nose in Grey’s direction, as though sniffing at hi another’s backside Grey trusted he would not be required to reciprocate and instead bowed politely

"My brother’s compliments, sir"

Actually, what his brother had had to say was far from complimentary

"Melodra hiist Has the devil’s own luck, though, I’ll give hi stupid"

Wolfe nodded ah

"And you’ve come as a witness for who is it--Captain Carruthers?"

"Yes, sir Has a date been set for the court-martial?"

"Dunno Has it?" Wolfe asked his adjutant, a tall, spindly creature with a beady eye

"No, sir Now that his lordship is here, though, we can proceed I’ll tell Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart; he’s to chair the proceeding"

Wolfe waved a hand

"No, wait a bit The brigadier will have other things on his mind ’Til after …"

The adjutant nodded andGrey, in theto share sohlanders, Colonel?"

Grey blinked, surprised

"Insofar as such a thing is possible, sir," he replied politely, and Wolfe brayed with laughter

"Good eneral turned his head to one side and appraised Grey "I’ve got a hundred or so of the creatures; been thinking what use they ht be I think I’ve found one--a small adventure"

The adjutant smiled despite himself, then quickly erased the smile

"Indeed, sir?" Grey said cautiously<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>