On the trunk of the tree, Charles had carved the head of a man about five and a half feet up from the ground. He was evidently a better soldier than artist because one eye was twice the size of the other and the grinning mouth stretched from left ear to right.
‘Why, Charles,’ said Mary, ‘I had no idea you were such a fine woodcarver. What an interesting head you’ve made. Are we now to destroy it with shot?’
‘You are. Exactly. You’ll be shooting its eyes out in no time.’
‘The left one will be easier, I fancy, than the right,’ observed Thomas.
‘Enough of your insolence, Thomas Hill. Just for that, you will go first. Have you ever fired a musket?’
‘I have not, although I have attended a battle.’
‘Newbury, wasn’t it?’
‘It was. I sat in a tent near the king and watched men and animals being killed and maimed. I sent out the king’s orders and received reports from his commanders. Some had to be encrypted or decrypted. I was his cryptographer.’
‘Well, well, Thomas. A cryptographer, eh? Codes and suchlike.’
‘Exactly. Codes and suchlike. I did no fighting.’
‘Well, I don’t imagine we’ll need codes so best have a go with a flintlock.’
Thomas stepped forward and with an unloaded flintlock was shown how to take up a firm stance with his feet apart, how to hold it firmly in his left hand and how to squeeze the trigger with his right, while squinting down the barrel at his target. It was not difficult and Charles had only to show him once and then suggest minor changes.
When it was Mary’s turn, however, Charles was displeased. ‘No, no, Mary, that won’t do at all. If you don’t fall over you’ll be lucky and you won’t hit a forest, let alone a tree, like that. Come, allow me.’
Slipping round behind her, he delicately adjusted the position of her left hand and the set of her shoulders. To be sure of her aim he placed his head beside hers and squinted down the barrel. ‘There, how does that feel? Better, eh? Should hit him like that.’
Mary wriggled a bit. ‘Very comfortable, Charles. Will we be standing like this for long?’
It was exactly at this point that Adam arrived to check on progress. He coughed loudly but Charles and Mary were too intent upon their lesson to notice.
‘Good morning, Charles,’ called out Adam, ‘I see I find you engaged. Closely engaged by the look of it. Please do proceed. I wouldn’t wish to interrupt.’
Charles stepped back sharply. ‘Ah, Adam, good morning. Yes, engaged we are. In target practice indeed. You are just in time to observe our first efforts at hitting the target.’
‘No doubt Mary at least will have no difficulty in doing so. Few pupils can have enjoyed such intimate attention from their teacher. Was Thomas so fortunate?’
‘Don’t be silly, brother. Charles was simply pointing out the deficiencies in my technique. Thomas had no need of such help.’ Mary was blushing.
‘Quite so. Though I do hope he’s not expecting you to take a position in the front rank of the infantry. It is uncommon for ladies to do so.’
‘No indeed, Adam. Certainly not.’ Charles feigned shock. ‘Our lesson is purely for the purposes of self-defence, no more. Mary has been instructed to take no risk at all. In the event of an attack she will be under cover at all times.’
‘I’m heartily glad to hear it. Now shall we watch some target practice?’
The first attempts of the pupils might have damaged a monkey unlucky enough to be asleep in the branches of the tree but would not have slowed the advance of an enemy. An hour later, however, there was little left of the grinning face and both Adam and Charles pronounced themselves satisfied.
‘We deserve a reward after that,’ said Mary. ‘Let’s open a bottle or two of claret. I’ll fetch them. And I’m starving.’
Charles followed Mary into the house. By the time they returned, Patrick had put food and wine on the table.
‘There’s news from Bridgetown,’ Adam told them, ‘and not good. Walrond is making warlike noises and there have been more banishments. Worse, several estates in the south have been attacked. We must call everyone in at once. It’s not safe any longer outside the ring. The men can go out to cut the cane but they should be armed and they must spend the nights here. The women and children must stay here all the time. There are only a few of them, after all. We mustn’t be caught off guard.’ Adam had made up his mind at once. They would take no more risks than absolutely necessary.
‘I agree,’ said Charles. ‘I’ll be off to Speightstown now to see if there is any news from the north.’
‘Let us hope we’re left alone,’ said Mary. ‘I don’t believe I could bear the smell of more powder on my hands and clothes. It’s not a perfume I favour.’
‘Speaking of which, Mary,’ said Charles, with a sideways look at Adam, ‘I’m struggling with my new paintings. I can’t seem to hang them right. It needs a woman’s touch, I fancy. Might you be free tomorrow?’
‘I might. Would midday be convenient?’
‘It would. Very.’
By that evening, all the men in the fields had been armed, blankets had been laid out for them in the redoubts and the women were watching their children playing games outside the house. All the children but one were small – Thomas guessed less than six years old. The exception was a boy of perhaps twelve who sat alone, cross-legged and silent. He was an orphan named Daniel who helped in the curing house. Mary called him over. ‘Daniel, if there is an attack I want you to stay inside the house to help with the children. They must be kept under cover with the women. We don’t want any of them running out to see what all the noise is about.’
‘Yes, Miss Lyte. Who is going to attack us?’
‘There are bands of men attacking estates in the south. It might happen to us.’
‘Are they white men or black men, Miss Lyte?’
‘Both. They are armed and dangerous. That is why we are taking precautions. Remember, please, what I have told you.’ Mary looked hard at him. There was something unsettling about this boy. But she had things to attend to. Daniel would have to fend for himself.
Just before dusk the men came in from the fields, singing as usual and carrying their muskets and swords over their shoulders. Thomas and Adam showed each one where he would sleep and posted two sentries at the spots they had chosen. ‘What do you do if you see or hear anyone approaching?’ Thomas asked them for the hundredth time.
‘We run back here and tell you how many there are and which direction they are coming from.’
‘Good. Run fast, don’t shout and try not to be seen. Off you go, and don’t dare fall asleep. Any man who does will be put on sentry duty all night for a week. I’ll be checking during the night.’ He would be doing no such thing, but it did not hurt to frighten them a little. It might be someone else’s fight, but he was caught up in it and he would play his part.
The first alarm came sooner than anyone expected. It was about midnight when the two sentries arrived. Adam heard them coming and went out to meet them.
‘Mr Lyte, someone’s coming. I heard the sound of a horse,’ said one.
‘So did I,’ agreed the other, ‘but it was more than one. They were making a lot of noise.’ A horseman, or even horsemen, making a lot of noise did not sound like an impending attack, but there was nothing to be gained by taking chances.
‘Wake all the men and tell them to take up their stations. No firing without my order. Make it clear.’ Adam went back to tell Mary to stay inside and to keep out of sight until he called for her, then took his flintlock and waited in the shadows in the parlour, where Thomas and Patrick joined him.