Hide and Seek for Love Read Free Page B

 After midnight tonight every man who can use a rifle must be ready to shoot.  Be vigilant; you may not see them until they are on top of us.  Even though it is dark, you will be aware of a man moving towards the Fort, whether he is walking or on his stomach.  It is absolutely essential that not one of them gain access.”
    â€œI should imagine, sir, they will be carrying some means of breaking down the gates.”
    â€œI have thought of that, Napier.  They will not only be doubly strengthened but heavily guarded.”
    â€œI am certain that’s very wise, sir.  Shall we go now and set up the barriers?”
    David gave a cry of protest.
    â€œThey are watching the Fort from every available tree or even from a distant rock or hillock.  Nothing should be moved and you should not give them the slightest idea that you are anticipating trouble?”
    As an afterthought he added,
    â€œIs that not correct, sir?”
    He thought that perhaps the Colonel would resent his taking over.
    â€œYou are so right, Captain.  Everything must appear entirely normal.  Moreover one can never be quite certain that they do not have sympathisers inside the Fort.”
    David sighed.
    â€œSo true, sir.  It has happened before and at the cost of many British lives.”
    â€œWhat we must do is relatively simple.  Every rifle, every pistol has to be loaded and ready.  But to all intents and purposes we are walking in the sunshine unperturbed, having not the slightest idea of what might happen.  Is that, Captain Ingle, what you believe is the right tactic?”
    â€œIt is the only tactic, sir.”
    David rose a little unsteadily to his feet.
    â€œMay I rest for just two or three hours, sir?”
    â€œOf course. Of course,” Colonel Jones agreed as if he should have thought of it himself.
    He told one of the Officers to take him to his room where he knew there was a second bed.
    â€œLet him sleep, but wake the Captain before dinner which we will have a little later than usual.”
    David smiled.
    â€œI shall look forward to dinner, sir.”
    Major Atkins led him from the Colonel’s office.
    Only as they walked down the passage did David hear a burst of noise behind him and he guessed that every Officer had started talking all at once.
    Major Atkins’ room was comparatively cool and the bed was comfortable.
    At that moment David would have slept on a bed of nails and not been aware of it.
    He threw off his tattered robe, kicked off his shoes, lay down and was fast asleep before his head touched the pillow.
    Major Atkins shaded the window from the sun and then left the room closing the door quietly behind him.
    He then joined the turmoil upstairs realising that his brother Officers were all excited at the idea of action.
    Life could be seriously dull in a Fort where nothing happened day after day.  There were few amusements and certainly not an attractive woman anywhere.
    As the Colonel had ordered, weapons were put at the ready.  At the same time the only sign of activity was inside the buildings of the Fort.
    Outside men walked about casually, as they always did, looking out over the magnificent view.
    David had slept for over four hours without moving when he was woken for dinner.
    A bath was prepared for him and he shaved away his beard and the Major lent him some decent clothes.
    â€œI apologise for being a nuisance, Major.”
    â€œYou are not a nuisance at all.”
    The Major tried, however, to draw David out into telling him where he had been and what he had done.
    But David kept his mouth shut and assumed an air of nonchalance, refusing to be drawn into conversation.  He knew it was always a mistake to confide, even to a fellow officer.  Careless words or too much information could result in danger or even death for those who followed him.
    It was a wise provision in The Great Game that no one, as far as possible, knew who was taking