“Good morning,” said Oscar, saluting.
“You are prompt, Sergeant,” and Armitage shook hands with him.
As the train roared on through the valley, Armitage opened one of the suit-cases and took out a pair of leather leggings, which he strapped on. Then Oscar tied the cases together with a rope and hung them across his saddle-bow.
“The place—what of it?” asked Armitage.
“There may be worse—I have not decided.”
Armitage laughed aloud.
“Is it as bad as that?”
The man was busy tightening the saddle girths, and he answered Armitage’s further questions with soldierlike brevity.
“You have been here—”
“Two weeks, sir.”