Part 48 (1/2)
The provost-marshal's manner was not to be mistaken.
”What can I do, sare?”
”Find out some one who can pa.s.s through the lines and bring or send him to my friend.”
”Who is this gentleman?”
”He is one of Lord Raglan's staff; his name is Mr. McKay.”
A close observer would have seen that the baker started slightly at the name and that he bent an eager, inquisitive look upon McKay.
”Will the gentleman give promise to do no harm to me or my people?”
”So long as you behave properly,--yes.”
”I think I know some one, then.”
”Produce him at once.”
”He not here to-day; out selling bread. Where he find you, sare, to-morrow, or any time he have anything to tell?”
”Let him come to the headquarters and ask for my tent,” said McKay.
”There is my name on a piece of paper; if he shows that to the sentry they will let him through.”
”Very good, sare; you wait and see.”
”No humbug, mind, Joe; or I'll be down on you!” added the provost-marshal. ”Is that all you want, McKay?”
Our hero expressed himself quite satisfied, and, with many thanks to the provost-marshal, he remounted and rode away.
CHAPTER II.
AMONG THE COSSACKS.
McKay was in His tent next morning finis.h.i.+ng dressing when his servant brought him a piece of crumpled paper and said there was a messenger waiting to see him. The paper was the pa.s.s given the day before to Valetta Joe; its bearer was a nondescript-looking ruffian, in a long s.h.a.ggy cloak of camel's hair, whose open throat and bare legs hinted at a great scantiness of wardrobe beneath. He wore an old red fez, stained purple, on the back of his bullet-head; he had a red, freckled face, red eyebrows, red eyes, red hair, and a pointed red beard, both of which were very ragged and unkempt.
”Have you got anything to tell me?” asked McKay, sharply, in English; and when the other shook his head he tried him in French, Spanish, and last of all in Italian.
”News,” replied the visitor, at length, laconically; ”ten dollars.”
McKay put the money in his hand and was told briefly--
”To-morrow--sortie--Woronzoff Road.”
And this was all the fellow would say.
McKay pa.s.sed on this information to his chief, but rather doubtfully, declining to vouch for it, or say whence it had come.