“I heard laughter – and there’s not many find those places amusing. It’s no palace, but I think there are men in there who are relieved to be living within brick walls rather than canvas ones. It’d be cramped, so there wouldn’t be vast numbers – a couple of hundred, perhaps, kept relatively warm and fed and grateful for it because they know the alternative is a transfer to this place if they do fall ill.” Hawkwood shrugged. “They may have set up tents within the walls that we didn’t see.”

“So young Pike drew the short straw stuck out here.”

“And paid the price,” Hawkwood said. “Looked like he’s sick as a dog, too.”

“I doubt he’ll stay here,” Lawrence said, “if he’s as ill as he looks. Him being a colonel, they’ll probably move him into town, commandeer someone’s house. Losing foot-sloggers is hard enough, but senior officers are in serious short supply.” He scratched his unshaven chin. “Those two not in uniform were an intriguing mix; the Indian, especially. Fearsome-looking fellow, despite the jewellery.”

“Oneida,” Hawkwood said, without thinking. “Bear clan.”

Lawrence tilted his head. “And how in God’s name would you know that?”

“Another long story,” Hawkwood said, after a pause.

Lawrence leaned back against the wall and regarded Hawkwood with wry amusement. “Now, why did I know that’s what you were going to say?”

Lawrence waited expectantly but when Hawkwood stayed silent he ran a hand across his own stubbled jaw. “Before I crossed the border, I was told the Yankees employ their own force of native intelligence gatherers. They call it their Observer Corps; Indians commanded by white officers. I’m wondering if that’s what those two were.” Adding in a subdued tone, “I’m told they’re exceedingly cruel to their captives. That they torture the living and mutilate the dead.”

Hawkwood drew his legs up and rested his hands on his knees. “It’s nothing new. The Spanish irregulars castrate French prisoners. It’s a way of spreading fear among their enemies.”

“It’s barbaric,” Lawrence said, with a shudder.

“It’s war,” Hawkwood said.

Lawrence looked at him.

“It’s why we put up with it; why we want them on our side. It’s why people like you, me and Grant are sent in behind enemy lines on recruiting expeditions. In Spain it was the guerrilleros. Over here it’s the Iroquois. We’d be foolish not to use them.”

Lawrence’s right eyebrow rose in query. “No matter what atrocities they might commit?”

“Better to have them inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.”