JК
Sharpes Gold :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 34 из 179Sharpe was frustrated. He could climb the gully's rim, see where the gold was stored, see where the survival of the army was hidden in a seemingly uninhabited valley, yet he could do nothing. As midday approached he slept.
'Sir! Harper was shaking him. 'We've got action.
He had slept no more than fifteen minutes. 'Action?
'In the valley, sir.
The Company were stirring, looking eagerly at Sharpe, but he waved them down. They must stifle their curiosity and watch, instead, as Sharpe and Harper climbed up beside Kearsey and Knowles on the rock rim. Kearsey was grinning.
'Watch this.
From the north, from a track that led down from high pastures, five horsemen trotted slowly towards the village. Kearsey had his telescope extended and Sharpe found his own. 'Partisans, sir?
Kearsey nodded. 'Three of them.
Sharpe pulled out his glass, his fingers feeling the inset brass plate, and found the small group of horsemen. The Spaniards rode, straight-backed and easy, looking relaxed and comfortable, but their two companions were quite different. Naked men, tied to the saddles, and through the glass Sharpe could see their heads jerking with fear as they wondered what was to happen to them.
'Prisoners. Kearsey said the word fiercely.
'What's going to happen? Knowles was fidgeting.
'Wait. Kearsey was still grinning.
Nothing stirred in the village. If the French were there they were well hidden. Kearsey chuckled. 'The ambushers ambushed!
The horsemen had stopped. Sharpe swung the glass back. One Spaniard held the reins of the prisoners' horses while the others dismounted. The naked men were pulled from their saddles and the ropes that had tied their legs beneath the horses' bellies were used to lash their ankles tightly together. Then more rope was produced, thick loops hanging from the Partisans' saddles, and the two Frenchmen were tied behind the horses. Knowles had borrowed Sharpe's telescope and beneath his tan he paled, shocked by the sight.
'They won't run far, the Lieutenant said half in hope.
Kearsey shook his head. 'They will.
Sharpe took the glass back. The Partisans were unfastening their saddle-bags, going back to the horses with the roped men. 'What are they doing, sir?
'Thistles.
Sharpe understood. Along the paths and in the high rocks huge purple thistles grew, often as high as a man, and the Spanish, a horse at a time, were thrusting the heads of the spiny plants beneath the empty saddles.
'Sir! Harper was shaking him. 'We've got action.
He had slept no more than fifteen minutes. 'Action?
'In the valley, sir.
The Company were stirring, looking eagerly at Sharpe, but he waved them down. They must stifle their curiosity and watch, instead, as Sharpe and Harper climbed up beside Kearsey and Knowles on the rock rim. Kearsey was grinning.
'Watch this.
From the north, from a track that led down from high pastures, five horsemen trotted slowly towards the village. Kearsey had his telescope extended and Sharpe found his own. 'Partisans, sir?
Kearsey nodded. 'Three of them.
Sharpe pulled out his glass, his fingers feeling the inset brass plate, and found the small group of horsemen. The Spaniards rode, straight-backed and easy, looking relaxed and comfortable, but their two companions were quite different. Naked men, tied to the saddles, and through the glass Sharpe could see their heads jerking with fear as they wondered what was to happen to them.
'Prisoners. Kearsey said the word fiercely.
'What's going to happen? Knowles was fidgeting.
'Wait. Kearsey was still grinning.
Nothing stirred in the village. If the French were there they were well hidden. Kearsey chuckled. 'The ambushers ambushed!
The horsemen had stopped. Sharpe swung the glass back. One Spaniard held the reins of the prisoners' horses while the others dismounted. The naked men were pulled from their saddles and the ropes that had tied their legs beneath the horses' bellies were used to lash their ankles tightly together. Then more rope was produced, thick loops hanging from the Partisans' saddles, and the two Frenchmen were tied behind the horses. Knowles had borrowed Sharpe's telescope and beneath his tan he paled, shocked by the sight.
'They won't run far, the Lieutenant said half in hope.
Kearsey shook his head. 'They will.
Sharpe took the glass back. The Partisans were unfastening their saddle-bags, going back to the horses with the roped men. 'What are they doing, sir?
'Thistles.
Sharpe understood. Along the paths and in the high rocks huge purple thistles grew, often as high as a man, and the Spanish, a horse at a time, were thrusting the heads of the spiny plants beneath the empty saddles.