![]() ![]() It is wonderful to sing of our redemption, and indeed many songs have been written on this very subject. A haideri was worth half a crown, far above the miserable tuppence a day he received in the British army.Bible Truth - “It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 'Unbearable, sir,' Morris said nervously. ![]() Do you think it still snows anywhere? My God, but it saps a man, this heat. 'I think I've forgotten what cold weather is like. 'Thank you kindly,' Baird said, then he sat, took off his plumed hat and fanned his face with its brim. May I?' Baird gestured at Morris's cot, asking permission to use it as a chair. 'Sit you down, man,' Baird said, trying to put the Captain at his ease. Now come.' He summonedDoctor Venkatesh who retrieved his basket and followed Gudin out of the palace. 'The pay is always in arrears,' Gudin admitted cheerfully, 'but in what army is the pay ever on time? Officially you earn a haideri a day, though you will rarely receive it, but I can promise you other consolations. 'I wouldn't waste your time, Shee, on trifles, but I'm obliged for your help, though.' 'No, sir.' Morris was too nervous to introduce himself properly. 'Sir!' Morris upset his chair as he stood up, then he plucked his red coat off the floor where it had fallen with the chair. It seemed to Morris, as to every other officer in the battalion, that Lawford had neither distinguished himself nor deserved promotion, but Morris could hardly admit as much to Baird. The excuse had provoked some resentment in the 33rd for Lawford was one of the most junior of the battalion's lieutenants and most men who carried despatches could expect a promotion as a reward for the task which, in turn, was usually only given to men who had distinguished themselves in battle. 'Myself, I'm not so certain that little scrap the other day was worth a despatch, but General Harris insisted and your Colonel chose Lawford.' Baird was using the excuse the army had invented to explain Lawford's disappearance. It's quite an honour for him.' Baird shook his head ruefully. A lucky fellow too, eh? Carrying the despatch to Madras. 'You mean Lieutenant Lawford, sir?The very fellow. That bastard Sharpe had run, taking his bibbi with him, but who else? 'Oh!' Morris said. 'You lost two men this week, Captain, did you not?' 'I'll be all right, love,' she whispered, 'and so will you.'īaird smiled at Morris. Mary stood on tiptoe and kissed Sharpe's cheek. YOU TUBE ONE LAST SOUL FOR MY RESTING PLACE FULLMorris hastily placed his cocked hat over a tin mug that Baird suspected was full of arrack. 'Thank you, sir.' Sergeant Hakeswill's stiff posture unbent a fraction.īaird found a shirt-sleeved Captain Morris frowning at his paperwork in the company of an oddly malevolent-looking sergeant who, at the General's unannounced arrival, sprang to quivering attention. He was still angry at Sharpe for having tried to shoot McCandless, and the musket's misfire had not placated him. 'But doubtless in arrears,' Lawford said sarcastically. There was litde Baird could do about that, but he could prevent a dreadful miscarriage of justice following the city's fall, and so that night, when the two armies' great encampment was established just a few days' march from their goal, Baird sought out the lines of the 33rd. At best, he thought, the two men could only hope to escape execution by joining the Tippoo's forces, which would mean that both Sharpe and Lawford would be in enemy uniform when the British assaulted the city. He had always suspected that even with the help of Ravi Shekhar their chances of rescuing McCandless were woefully small, but at the very least he had hoped they might learn McCandless's news and succeed in bringing it out of the city, but now he feared that neither man would even survive. It had seemed a good idea when he had first thought of it, but two days' reflection had diluted that initial hope with a score of reservations. The fact that neither the British nor Indian cavalry patrols had discovered the two men suggested that they might well have reached Seringapa-tam, but the more Baird thought about their mission the less sanguine he was about its successful completion. ![]() General David Baird did not feel guilty about Sharpe and Lawford, for they were soldiers and were paid to take risks, but he did feel responsible for them. I'm sure your woman will be safe in General Rao's house. 'And soldiers on probation are not permitted wives. ![]()
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