27th May, morning; with wagons

"None, sir," Newbury replied firmly. "Said the mule looked more laden than it ought, or somethin'. An' they was lookin' awful close at Pye's chick, there, which I was mindin' while the lads were drillin'."

Vickery nodded. "You say they went through my things as well, Cotton?"

The Kentish Rifleman opened his mouth to speak, thought better of it and nodded. "Aye, they did that, sir. Told 'em straight it was your stuff an' they didn't have no right to go pawin' through it that way, an' all, sir!"

Vickery's lips set in a straight line. "Do you by any chance know the names of the men who had the temerity to accuse you?"

Newbury shook his head. "Not their names, sir. They never said no names. But I'd know their faces; it was them same two from the other night."

"No, but sir, one of 'em's called Giles - the big fellow. I heard him called it the other night, 'fore you showed up, sir," Cotton said, belatedly stepping forward to hold Brandy's reins.

Vickery looked from Newbury to Cotton and back. "Do either of you know where I might find them now?" he asked.

Cotton shrugged. "Went that way, sir." He pointed. "Can't say as I was upset to see the back of 'em, neither, not after what they bin an' gone an' done."

"Like to know what they're on about," Newbury muttered, mostly to himself. This whole thing had gone beyond sense.

"Right," Vickery said briskly. "Mind giving me a leg up again, Cotton?"

His batman gave a half-shrug and cupped his hands. Vickery pulled himself back into the saddle and paused, looking down at the two men. "If you don't mind, I would like you to come along. After all, you know what happened, and I only have Jestel's report to go on."

"Be glad to, sir," Newbury replied.

"Can you keep up with Brandy, walking, or should I put you up in the saddle?" Vickery asked. He'd seen Newbury's fall earlier, and wasn't wholly convinced that his knee was up to bearing his weight while they went hunting for the provosts.

Newbury set his jaw determinedly. "I can walk, sir."

Vickery raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, merely nudging Brandy into a walk, heading in the direction Cotton had indicated.

Cotton had let go the halter and the mule had wandered off the road. But Maggie had been content to have an excuse not to speak to Vickery as she rushed to catch its halter. Everything was going mad! She had a brief thought that things were much easier when the riflemen were far ahead, away from the baggage, everyone was in their right place, but she pushed that thought aside with a twinge of guilt.

"Pye, hold this," she said, pushing the rope towards him.

Pye looked rather uneasy when being made to hold on the rope of the animal that he felt rather intimidated by. He'd ridden a horse, only once, and only because he was so told, because it was an emergency. And even then, he still remembered how awful it felt afterwards. "Ma'am.. I don't.." He protested staring at the animal that was staring back with equal dislike, or perhaps he was just imagining that. ".. I don't think it's good I hold it." He blurted out, even though he could've considered, on a second thought, that he was talking to a lass. And soldiers were supposed to be tougher than women.

As if to confirm that thought, the mule jerked its head up and down vigorously. "Just hold it like that and don't pay him no mind!" Maggie said impatiently. "I gotta go 'n find Jenny!"

Pye looked ready to release the mule and not care whether the animal would run off, have a stampede through the camp or do any of the things a witty animal as that would do. He barely even held on the rope which was jerked by the mule's head motion.

"..Ma'am.. I could.." He started worriedly. "I'd be better.. she obeys you, while she'd run off on me." Which he didn't doubt for a moment. "Maybe I could go n'...see Jenny."

Maggie frowned and chewed at her lip, watching Vickery and the two riflemen disappear up ahead. "Go on then. And come back and tell me as soon as you find out what's going on!"

"Will do!" He smiled brightly , relieved. "I'll have t' chick with you miss, n'.." He slipped his breadbag over his shoulder and held it to Maggie. It was empty. "If'un a provost comes, just stuff it in.. it should be silent.. I hope." He looked nervously at Maggie. "N'.. if they do find it.. tell 'em it's mine.. n'.. that I got it as a gift of an' egg.. so they won't take you!" With that he turned to look where the officer was and where the two riflemen had gone, and where possibly Jenny would be as well.