|
Warning: General Audience |
|
|
SHARPE’S Trek
Richard Sharpe and the
Battle of Saldanha Bay
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
SHARPE’S TREK. Copyright © 2024 by Paul Kaster
Sharpe’s Trek is for
Christian Parkinson, host of the Redcoat Military History podcast and a resident of South Africa
And
Bernard Cornwell who brought Richard Sharpe into our world.
Chapter 6
August 12, 1796
DAY 6
Yzerfontein
Hughes is right. They found no water after they left the base of the hill. They spent the day marching uphill. Beyond the crest, they saw only the third house on their route. That house is close to the bottom of the slope.
Hughes is curious about where they were so he sent for Sharpe.
“Hughes wants you Sharpe.” Hakeswill tells him.
“Me, sergeant?”
“Yes, you, Sharpe. Thinks that you speak the lingo. Has questions for that house,” He points.
“Questions, sergeant.”
Hakeswill spits.
“Follow me.”
Together they went to Hughes.
“Sharpe you seem to able to communicate with these people.”
Sharpe does not answer.
“Go there. Ask them where we are. How far to the bay? Any danger ahead? We lead again in three days. Want to know what we may see when we lead.”
Sharpe replies, “Where we are. How far? Danger? Yes, sir.” Before he goes, he asks.
“Take another man with me, sir?”
“Another, Sharpe?”
“Palin was at Boxtel too. Better with Dutch than me.”
“Yes, yes. Take Palin. Return to our camp. Expect we will stop at the base of this hill there.” He points.
“Looks like stream there.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sharpe tries to pass Hakeswill as he goes. Hakeswill grabs him by the wrist.
“Fooling Hughes, you are, Sharpe. Fooling him. I know that you are trouble. Trouble for you when he finds out. Trouble for you.”
“Hear you, sergeant. Not trouble today, sergeant.”
Sharpe goes to collect Palin.
“Watch the section, Tom. Palin and I are going to talk with the locals.”
“Palin?”
“Yes, he learned more Dutch when we were at Boxtel. Hope he knows enough to get answers for Hughes. Back by mealtime.”
“Will have your tea and biscuits ready, my lord.” Tom gives a sweeping bow gesture.
Sharpe ignores him.
“Palin, come with me. We have an adventure.”
“Adventure, Dick.”
“Yes, we are going to meet those Dutch people.” He points at the house.
Palin and Sharpe approach the house. As before a man comes out with a matchlock weapon. Behind him a woman watches from the door.
“Hallo. Speak English?”
Sharpe is surprised when the man says. “Some. Little.”
“Palin, how do you say? ‘What is the name of this place?”
“I think it is ‘Wat is de naam hier?’”
“Ask him.”
Palin tries the phrase.
The man replies ‘Rietfontein’. Which sounds like Reet Fountain.
Sharpe repeats “Reet Fountain.”
The man nods.
“Point to where we cam from and ask him.”
Palin points to the south and asks again.
The man answers, ‘Yzerfontein’.
Sharpe repeats “Aye Zer fountain.”
The man nods.
“Ask him how far to the bay.”
Palin asks, “Bay how far?”
Sharpe says, “I could have asked that.”
The man answers, “Twee dagen.”
“See he understood.”
The man smiles. He holds up two fingers.
Sharpe nods “Two days.”
Sharpe tries talking directly.
“Danger ahead?”
“No. No problems. Schip mannen kommen niet.”
“So, no troubles. The ships men don’t come here.”
The man nods.
“Thank you.
Sharpe bows to the man and offers his hand.
The man shakes hands.
Palin and Sharpe go.
Sharpe takes a different angle to the camp. He’s careful going around brush to avoid any serpents. He also wants to avoid Colonel Champagne.
Palin and Sharpe report to Hughes.
“Yesterday was Reet Fountain. Today is Aye Zer Fountain. Two days to the bay. No trouble. The Dutch stay with their ships. “
“Good, good, Sharpe. Palin, is it? Thank you as well.”
“Another extra rum for you, Sharpe?”
“Share with my men. Not much of rum drinker, sir.”
“Well, not regulation, but you earned it. Use as you see fit. Before you go. Can you ride?”
“Ride, sir? Yes, can ride.”
Hughes turns to a captain standing behind him. General wants the men to have some beef. Saw cattle behind that house. Go with Captain Lincoln. He’ll buy the cattle. You ask in their lingo, eh?”
“Yes, sir. Ask for cattle. Captain Lincoln pays. We bring back.”
“Good, good. Oh, and know any men who can butcher?”
“Butcher, sir. No, sir. Garrard may know. He worked a farm.”
“Garrard, eh?
Sharpe mounts the horse that Captain Lincoln brought. “Sharpe, is it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Lead the way, Sharpe.”
Sharpe sets off to the house. He hopes that he can make the man understand as well as Palin did. As they rode up, the man came from the house again. Sharpe dismounts and walks to him.
“Hallo, again.”
“Hallo. Waarom kom ye weer?”
Sharpe understands that he asked why he came back.
“We buy cattle.” He points to the field behind the house. At first the man doesn’t understand, but Sharpe makes a mooing sound like a cow.”
“Ach, koeien. Je koopt? Hoeveel?”
Sharpe understands that he asked how many.
“Captain Lincoln, how many do we buy?”
“We have 6,000 men to feed. Average steer yields 600 pounds of meat. Half a pound of meat per man means that we need 5 steers.”
Sharpe holds up his five fingers to the Dutchman.
“How much?” Sharpe knows that Lincoln will pay British gold. Better than Dutch money.
“Hoe veel. Tien kronen, Engels.”
“He says, ten British crowns.”
Lincoln pulls out five gold coins. He holds them up. “Tell him, five.”
The man understands. “Nee, nee. Acht.” He holds up eight fingers.
Lincoln pulls out two more coins. “Seven.”
Sharpe shows seven fingers.
“Goede, Zeven.” He reaches out to shake Sharpe’s hand.
“Your name?”
“Naam?” Veldwijk.”
Sharpe reaches his hand. “Sharpe.” He taps his chest then shakes Veldwijk’s hand.
“Let’s go get some cows.”
Lincoln holds the coins. “Two now. Rest when we have the cattle.”
“Ja.”
As they ride back to camp, Lincoln asks Sharpe. “Ever considered to be a quartermaster, Sharpe?”
“Quartermaster, sir. No, sir. I’m a soldier.”
“Well, you have a clear head and the skills to be a good quartermaster. See me if you change your mind. Today, enjoy your beef.”
When they arrive back at the army’s camp, Lincoln sees that butchering stations have been set up.
“I’ll take your horse now, Sharpe. I’ll make sure that Captain Hughes gives you an extra share of the beef.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“May need you again, before we reach the bay. Interested?”
“Yes, sir. Opportunity to see the land. Extra beef too, sir.”
“Smart lad, Sharpe. Go now.”
Sharpe sets off to his company.
Garrard welcomes him back.
“Hear we will eat beef tonight.”
“You hear right. I get extra share. Interested?”
“Always.”
Palin is nearby.
“Palin, interested in sharing my extra beef? You did well today too.”
“Aye Dick.” He smiles.
Fiction Index | Sharpe Tales Home | Sharpe's Trek Index | Chapter 7
Host: Psychz Networks
Since: November 25, 2010
©Sable 2025 | Valid CSS
This is not official and I am not Sharpe or Bernard Cornwell, the owner of Sharpe. This website is for entertainment purposes only. If you have any questions or queries please use the Contact Form. Your submissions for contact will not be posted anywhere within this site. Images, etc are copyright their respective owners. No infringement intended.