Всадник без головы

Chapter 19

           Withtheexceptionoftheladies,almosteveryonewhohadtakenpartintheexpeditionseemedtothinkthatahalf-hourspentatthe"RoughandReady"wasnecessaryasa"nightcap"beforeretiringtorest;andastheDutchclock,quaintlytickingamongthecoloureddecanters,indicatedthehourofeleven,oneafteranotherofficersoftheFortplanterslivingnearalongtheriverSutlerscommissariatcontractors"sportsmen"andotherswhomightbecallednondescriptscamedroppingin;eachasheenteredmarchingstraightuptothecounter,callingforhisfavouritedrink,andthenfallingbacktoconversewithsomegroupalreadyoccupyingthefloor.

           Oneofthesegroupswasconspicuous.Itconsistedofsomeeightortenindividuals,halfoftheminuniform.Amongthelatterwerethethreeofficersalreadyintroduced;thecaptainofinfantry,andthetwolieutenantsHancockofthedragoons,andCrossmanofthemountedrifles.

           Alongwiththesewasanofficerolderthananyofthem,alsohigherinauthority,ascouldbetoldbytheembroideryonhisshoulder-strap,thatproclaimedhimoftherankofmajor.Ashewastheonly"fieldofficer"atFortInge,itisunnecessarytosayhewasthecommandantofthecantonment.

           Thesegentlemenwereconversingasfreelyasifallweresubalternsofequalrankthesubjectofthediscoursebeingtheincidentsoftheday.

           "Nowtellus,major!"saidHancock:"youmustknow.Wheredidthegirlgallopto?"

           "HowshouldIknow?"answeredtheofficerappealedto.

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