Blackstone outpaced the others. He plunged into the undergrowth, eyes searching for an enemy who might have pickets beyond their camp. The forest became darker the deeper he looked through the trees. No challenge was made; no sudden movement of panic came from an outlying sentry. John Jacob and the others crouched and slowed their breathing, listening hard for any sound. The men needed no instruction from Blackstone; they were all experienced fighters used to closing with an enemy. They crept forward, following Blackstone’s lead, careful where they trod, choosing leaf mould wherever they could to cushion the sound of their approach. Fingers of light still filtered in from the edge of the trees.

Blackstone moved slowly now. It made no sense to be overeager in hunting the man. Blackstone’s killer instincts bore all the hallmarks of a predator. His senses were alert, and he was rewarded by hearing a sound that was out of place in the forest. It was the low murmur of men’s voices. Like a stalking wolf, he smelt the air. There was no scent of food or woodsmoke, which meant these men were prepared to sleep rough and eat cold food. The dull light meant he had no chance of seeing them. He raised a hand to stop the men behind him and turned his face into the breeze. The soft scent of leaf mould and forest plants wafted over him, as did the pungent smell of horses. The enemy was close. He pictured them in his mind’s eye. If he were leading a scouting party, he would have each man lie under his blanket apart from the others in a perimeter, so that if one man was set upon the others could quickly react. These men he stalked had already proved they were experienced. They would lay less than twenty feet from the edge of the forest so that if there was a surprise attack, they had a quick escape route.

Blackstone crouched, gesturing the men to move closer.

‘I can smell their sweat. They’re close,’ he whispered, showing the direction. ‘No more than thirty paces. If they’re seasoned fighters they’ll be spread out. If we push forward we’ll stumble on one or two of them. We need to move around them. If they escape they’ll go for open ground and then it’s up to Will and his men.’ He pointed to each man and showed where he wanted them. ‘If for any reason they’re alerted I’ll draw them and you attack.’