"
"What an inveterate old grumbler you are, Hyde! Besides, what right
have you to criticise the general and his plans?"
"We have entered into this business a great deal too lightly, I am
quite convinced of that," said Hyde, positively. "There has been no
sufficient preparation."
"Nonsense, man! They have been months getting the expedition ready."
"And still it is wanting in the most necessary things. It has to trust
to luck for its transport," and the old sergeant pointed with his
thumb to the captured carts. "We may, perhaps, get as many more; but,
even then, there won't be enough to supply us with food if we go much
further inland; we may never see our knapsacks again, or our tents."
"We shan't want them; it won't do us any harm to sleep in the open.
Napoleon always said that the bivouac was the finest training for
troops."
"You will be glad enough of shelter, sergeant-major, before to-night's
out, mark my words! The French are better off than we are; they have
got everything to their hands--their shelter-tents, knapsacks, and
all. They understand campaigning; I think we have forgotten the art."
"As if we have anything to learn from the French!" said the
self-satisfied young Briton, by way of ending the conversation.
But Sergeant Hyde was right, so far as the need for shelter was
concerned.
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