Gooch laughed. ‘Then let us hope he has retired to somewhere safer.’
Men scurried about fetching and carrying ammunition boxes and lengths of timber. Some were using their bayonets to fashion loopholes in the walls. Others hammered at loose bricks with the butts of their muskets. The timber they were hammering into makeshift fire steps set against the walls. James Graham had found a long wooden bench, which he was heaving into position at the far end of the garden. They walked over to him. ‘Corporal Graham, how goes the work?’ asked Macdonell.
Graham put down the bench and stretched his back. ‘There is much to do, Colonel. We could do with some engineers with picks and hammers. And we haven’t enough nails for the steps.’
‘I will see what I can do. Meanwhile search the barns and sheds. Tear them apart if you have to.’
Beyond the garden wall was an orchard, reached by another narrow door. In the orchard Lord Saltoun’s light companies were doing what they could to reinforce the hedge that ran round it. They had felled some of the fruit trees and were using them to plug holes. Alexander Fraser, Lord Saltoun, although only thirty, had already seen service in Spain and France, had a reputation for fearlessness and had caught the eye of the Duke. That, no doubt, was why he had been chosen to lead the defence of the orchard. He saw Macdonell and put down the axe with which he was felling an apple tree. ‘James, I am pleased to see you in one piece. What is your strength?’ Saltoun was not a man to waste words.
‘Two hundred and sixty,’ replied Macdonell. ‘And yours?’
‘About the same. Not enough to hold this position for long. The hedge is too patchy to be much use and they will attack in force. I propose that we hold on as long as we can and then withdraw into the lane or the garden. We might be able to defend the garden wall.’ There was a crack of thunder above their heads. ‘Heaven’s artillery or French cannon?’
‘The former, I trust. The orchard is yours, Alexander. I will command the house and garden. Between us we must keep the frogs out. The Duke insists.’
‘In that case, we certainly must.’
There was a yell of warning from the far end of the orchard. ‘Frenchies. In the field.’
‘Infantry or cavalry?’ called Saltoun.
‘Infantry, Colonel.’
‘If you can see them, shoot them.’ They ran between the apple trees to the hedge where a line of men had poked their muskets through the branches and were firing on the enemy who had taken shelter behind the chestnut trees that dotted the fields beyond.
A corporal who was reloading turned to speak to them. ‘Only a small patrol, sir. And a bit smaller now. Two or three down.’ There was a short burst of firing from the field, then silence. ‘Emptied their muskets and gone, I think, sir.’
‘Good. Keep a close watch in case they return uninvited,’ replied Saltoun.
‘A look at the other entrances and then we will explore the woods,’ said Macdonell, striding back to the farm.
The west gate, set beside the barn, was no more than a door — easily barricaded and defended. ‘Whatever you can find to reinforce it and a small troup nearby,’ he ordered.
The north gate, through which wagons were still arriving from the ridge, was a different matter. It was sturdy enough and unlikely to be struck by round shot or shell fired over the farm and chateau, but not impregnable. And it would have to be kept open or at least opened to allow men and wagons to enter. ‘Twenty men here, if you please, Mister Gooch, and timber ready to reinforce the gate if necessary.’
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Gooch.
‘May I command this position, Colonel?’ asked Hervey.
‘Why would you wish to do that, Mister Hervey?’
‘A feeling, sir, that this gate will prove vital.’
‘In that case, Mister Hervey, you may indeed command the position.’ Macdonell turned to Gooch. ‘And lest I am accused of being less than even-handed, Mister Gooch, you will command the south gate. Sergeant Dawson will be with you. The corporals will assist Mister Hervey. Is there anything else you can think of, gentlemen?’
‘We will have men in the tower and the chateau, at all the gates and around the walls and the orchard. We shall be spread thin, Colonel,’ replied Hervey.
‘We shall. There is little I can do about it.’
‘Wounded in the chateau and the barn, Colonel,’ said Gooch, ‘but we have no medical staff.’
‘We will make do until we get some.’ Sergeant Dawson was still supervising the unloading of supply wagons. ‘May I borrow your musket, Sergeant?’ he asked. ‘We are taking a look in the woods while there is still enough light to see our noses.’
The sergeant handed Macdonell his musket. ‘Take care, Colonel, you will be needed tomorrow.’
‘I shall, Sergeant. Come on, gentlemen, and kindly remember that Nassauers wear green. In this light, green and blue are easily confused. Be careful at what you take aim.’
They left the farm by the open north gate, walked around the west side and entered the wood from the clearing outside the south gate, where hay had been stacked for the animals. The trees were mostly young oak — not dense — and evening light still penetrated the canopy. As he had in the wood outside Gemioncourt, Macdonell immediately felt uneasy. He took several deep breaths and ordered himself not to be foolish. It was only a wood, not an African jungle full of wild beasts.
The wood sloped away from the chateau. They made their way cautiously down towards sporadic musket fire coming from deeper within the wood, until they saw the backs of green jackets crouching and kneeling behind trees. They could just make out the green plume and orange sash of a Jäger officer, his sword drawn, standing on a fallen tree. He was peering into the gloom and directing the fire of his troops. Macdonell called out to him. ‘Captain, we are from the light companies of the British 2nd Brigade. We are coming up behind you.’
The captain turned and acknowledged them. ‘As well you warned us, Colonel,’ he said cheerfully. ‘My men are nervous in here.’
‘As are we, Captain. What is your situation?’
‘We hold the wood but for the extreme southern edge. The French are camped in a shallow valley beyond and are keeping us at bay with musket fire. I sent a small troop to reconnoitre from the east. They report that the French have been receiving reinforcements and have brought up artillery.’ It was not difficult to guess what the artillery would be firing at.
‘I fear it will be a wet and miserable night for you and your men, Captain. We must hold the woods until the morning. Then we will see what the enemy’s plans are.’
‘I understand, Colonel. Wet and miserable is the lot of the Jäger. We are quite used to it.’ He held out a hand to Macdonell. ‘May tomorrow bring us glory.’
‘I will settle for victory, Captain, glorious or not. Until tomorrow.’
So the woods were probably safe until dawn. But then the French would throw men into them and the Jägers and Nassauers would be forced to withdraw or they would need reinforcements. And unless General Cooke was willing to provide reinforcements, there would be none. The chateau and farm were thinly enough defended as it was.
Harry was waiting for them at the south gate. ‘Relieved to see you, Colonel,’ he greeted them, ‘and you, gentlemen. How did you find the woods?’
‘Unpleasant, thank you, Captain, but in good hands for now. Has any food been sent down?’
‘Not yet, although we have a barrel of gin and the bits we foraged. And there is a pig in the barn.’
‘So it’s pork for supper and a cup of gin all round. Mister Gooch, see to the pig, if you please. Sergeant Dawson is handy with a butcher’s knife. A piece for every man to go with the food Captain Wyndham managed to acquire for us. Mister Hervey, kindly take over from the sergeant. We may expect wagons to be coming and going most of the night. Captain Wyndham and I will make another inspection.’