‘No, I didn’t have time to, besides, there was only that big bugger who spoke English.’ Pegg’s recent beating had left him unusually keen to please the others, but he’d quite forgotten to try his luck with the Zouaves. ‘There’s them French guns yonder, d’you think Mick Whaley will let us go an’ see what’s what?’
Pegg scampered up to the sergeant who was setting the pace at the front of the column. ‘Sarge, is it all right if I nip over to see what I can get off of them Frogs?’ Whaley looked Pegg over. Other than his personal kit, he was carrying nothing of value that the French could steal and he did have a reputation as an expert scrounger.
‘All right, youth, but if you do get yer hands on any grog, don’t drink it yersen, we’ll all want a swat.’
The drummer trotted away as the party swu
