Half an hour passed, and still no word from Maclean. Nor any sound but avian and the odd monkey. That indeed was the jungle, which the Prussian couldn’t know from experience: a commander knew nothing but what was told him, and if he tried to see for himself he only confounded things the more.

‘The forest teems with life,’ said Hervey suddenly to the baboo, ‘yet it shuts up like a clam when anyone intrudes.’

‘It is so, sahib, but it takes no side.’

Hervey nodded, and with a resigned smile. It was true – how could it not be? – but at times it felt entirely other.

He admired the baboo more with each day. He wanted him close during the march, for although he was confident enough that his Hindoostanee would get him by when it came to words of command, if it came to writing … (and there was bound to be writing when they made Chintalpore).

He began to chafe. Still nothing from the Thirteenth, and the covering squadron of the 2nd Brigade would be closing up behind them soon. He’d four gallopers and two orderlies. He supposed he could send one of them forward, but …

‘Hurroo!’

A cornet at speed.

Parry spurred to halt him.

‘Message for the general, sir!’

The covermen re-sheathed their sabres.

Hervey beckoned him forward.

‘General,’ he said eagerly as he saluted; ‘Colonel Maclean’s compliments, and the road is clear. There was a vidette a mile west. They fired in the air when our scouts approached and then tried to gallop back, but they – the scouts – ran them down. The colonel’s questioning them now, two sowars, irregulars judging from their appearance.’

Hervey wondered. He’d expected something or nothing, not a brace of partisans. ‘If there was a vidette there must be a fair body of troops beyond, within hearing, the shots to sound alarm; how far have you explored?’

‘The forward detachment galloped three miles, General, but saw nothing at all.’

That was decidedly odd. Why post a vidette – or why its shots? Hervey thanked him nevertheless. There was only so much a galloper could suppose.

Time to see for himself – and for Minnie to have a gallop.

Ten minutes later they came on the Thirteenth’s pennant, and with some surprise. Colonel Maclean was at his ease in an old nipa palm shelter chatting amiably in Hindoostanee with the captives, and his covering serjeant pouring them rum.

Hervey got down, returning the salute and the smile.

‘Well, General, it appears I’ll be able to take these fellows on strength. I’ve never known looser tongues – and I can’t think they’ve any cause to be laying a false trail.’

‘Tell.’

‘They’re Jats, silladars. Someone knew we were coming, evidently, for they were posted only last night.’

Hervey nodded. Silladars – yeomanry, but even more independent-minded than the English variety. Just the men for vidette duty, but perilous since they owed no allegiance.

‘And the main force?’

‘About ten miles, as far as I can calculate – you know how variable is the kos – where the road crosses a fair-sized stream they say. Might be this here.’