‘And the distance between forest and river?’

‘Half a mile or so.’

Better even than he’d expected. ‘He must have moved at some speed.’

Maclean nodded. ‘When he reckoned he’d be able to get to the river before dark he decided to post pairs of men with torches as he went so as to guide him back. He’s also marked the way by notching the trees.’

‘Admirable. Well, I will meet with Mr Tysseu in due course. In the meantime, my compliments.’

By now, Parry had joined them, and Hervey had modified his plan.

‘Colonel Maclean says infantry should have no difficulty getting through the forest south, cavalry also. Perhaps even a few guns therefore, if they’re able to break them down for the closer stretches. I think it has capability.’

‘Is there nothing yet from the north, General? I’m afraid I’m only just come in myself.’

Hervey looked at Maclean. He’d told him not to waste relays passing ‘nothing to report’, but he was surprised nevertheless that the squadron on the northern road evidently hadn’t had touch with the enemy.

‘I sent Taylor, my major, about two hours before last light, but he’s not returned yet. That squadron had the longer road, of course.’

‘Indeed. Frankly, I’m more anxious to have word from Worsley’s troop. Otherwise I risk merely taking the line of least resistance, as it were.’

He smiled to himself – the Prussian again: Only the element of chance is needed to make war a gamble, and that element is never absent.

‘Still, in view of what you’ve just brought me, I want to make some preliminary arrangements. I’m excessively obliged.’

Colonel Maclean said he looked forward to wasting more of the Chintalees’ powder at dawn, then finished his coffee and took his leave. Parry opened his order book.

Hervey slept till first light, when Johnson brought him tea and a piece of biscuit spread with honey.

‘Can I ’ave a word, Colonel?’

Hervey sat up in his leafy bed, hoping the word wouldn’t be too diverting. ‘What troubles you?’

‘I were listenin’ to Colonel Maclean last night, when ’e said about that shrine. What if it’s there because the place’s crawling with ’em?’

‘With what?’

‘Snakes.’

Hervey sighed. Johnson had become rather too preoccupied with snakes: probably since their last time in India, when he’d bought a mongoose and found it afraid of them. Still, dawn in the forest was an agreeable time, and there were worse things on waking than a few harmless words with a man who’d served so staunchly for twenty years.

‘I’d think not. I don’t know what the Indian calls it, but to the Greeks a hamadryad was a tree spirit, so a shrine here doesn’t strike me as unusual. And frankly, five hundred pairs of boots are going to send every living thing scuttling.’

‘It were just a thought.’

‘And I hold your thoughts in high regard, Corporal Johnson, make no mistake … This tea is uncommonly good.’

‘Thank you. Are we going past t’shrine an’ all?’