"Why your honour, pistols are apt t' be a trifle unhandy for close work, d'ye see. Now, a bagnet——"
"And no steel, Zeb. We'll have no killing if it can be avoided!"
"No steel sir?" gasped the Sergeant. "No steel—!"
"Bludgeons will be best if it should come to fighting," continued the Major thoughtfully, "though I hope to effect their capture without any undue violence——" The Sergeant turned to stare:
"What, is there to be no violence now, your honour?" he sighed.
"Violent methods are ever clumsy, Zeb, I propose to use the element of surprise."
"Ah!" exclaimed the Sergeant and smiling grimly up at the moon he slowly closed one eye and opened it again.
After this they rode some time in silence, the Sergeant's mind preoccupied with the "Element of Surprise" as applied to the odds of five to two, while the Major, looking round about on the calm beauty of the night, dreamed ever of my lady Elizabeth Carlyon as had become his wont and custom.
In due time they reached a certain quiet bye-lane and here the Major checked his horse.
"Sergeant," said he, "'tis a fair night for walking what with the moon—er—the moon d'ye see and so forth——"