"Are we all set?" Colonel Maxwell puffed on his cheroot, appearing the epitome of calmness as he stood above Jack.
"Yes, sir." Jack looked at his men. They had used the short summer night to move into their positions, and now they were hidden in the folds of the landscape, invisible men with rifles, waiting for Anderson and his Cossacks.
Jack had chosen this spot carefully. Sir Colin would halt here for a few moments in a pre-arranged plan. It was far enough away from the British lines to be isolated and therefore vulnerable, yet close enough to the Russians for a raiding party to be able to hit and run. If he were Anderson, he would have chosen this spot to attack.
Maxwell grunted. "I can"t see your men."
"They"re here, sir." Jack raised his voice. "Answer the roll: O"Neill!"
"Sir!"
