Muster in the Morning, 6th July

Well, at least it wasn't a Guardsman, Vickery thought. That did not mean that he would let it pass, but it was more understandable. What he did not understand, however, was why anyone of the Second Guards had been in the Rifles' camp, let alone got himself into a scuffle there and lost his shako.

If the surgeon was aware that one of the men had inflicted a wound on the other, he should have had the sense to have that man taken into custody. If he had not, there was nothing else for it: Vickery would have to track him down and do so himself. Of course, if he'd since deserted - which it was increasingly looking as though he'd done - that might well prove to be impossible.

He turned to one of his other Sergeants. "Which regiment provided the picquets two nights ago?" he enquired. Something else fell into place in his mind - two nights ago was the night that Cotton had received a knife wound while fighting. He'd place both the two missing Riflemen, and Cotton, under arrest following that fight.

So they could not have absconded two nights ago, but must have somehow got away yesterday.

"One moment, Sergeant. I also need to know who provided the picquets last night."

Todd inclined his head slightly, more than aware he was guilty of a lapse in judgement by not ordering both men, if not the Rifleman, arrested. It was done, however, and he could do no better than attempt to make amends for it. Which he'd do, as soon as he returned to the surgeons' train.

~

The sergeant did not look in the Guards major's direction but it was plain he was choosing his words carefully on account of that officer's presence. Even though there was little to no chance of the Guardsman being able to understand German.

"It is the Twenty-seventh on picquet for this week, sir," was the reply. "The Second Guards take over from them for next week."