Sharpe's Doctor Chapter 02

Frogs is a nickname for the French army

Chapter Two Sharpe's Reconnaissance

Lieutenant Richard Sharpe wasn't happy. He hadn't been happy ever since Captain Hogan entrusted him with mission of scouting the Spanish countryside ahead of Wellsey's army. It was Sharpe's and his riflemen's job to do a weeks reconnaissance of the area.

Sharpe and his riflemen were chosen for this mission because this area was too rocky for cavalry and also because Sharpe and his Riflemen were familiar with the area due to the exploring missions with Captain Hogan.

Captain Hogan was back at with the army and was too busy to join Sharpe in this mission due to his new job as General Wellsey's Intelligence officer. It was not that Sharpe hated the responsibility it just that his prospects of promotion to Captain was nil on this mission due to the lack of action and lack of things to report on.

The saying "out of sight out of mind" crossed Sharpe's mind as he stared out onto the hilly landscape with his telescope. Sharpe was kneeling on a ridge above his camp which hidden in a small ditch in-between two hills. Sharpe had been camped there for three days watching the landscape and sending pairs of his riflemen out to patrol the immediate area in search for any French activity.

Sergeant Patrick Harper joined his Lieutenant on the ridge bringing him a cup of steaming tea.

"Anything on the horizon sir" said the big Irishmen handing over the cup?

"Nothing, bloody nothing Pat. This part of the Spanish border is empty of Frogs" Sharpe growled.

He placed his telescope given to him by Sir Arthur Wellesley to commemorate saving the Generals life at Assaye in his pocket and took the steaming tin mug.

"Oh well sir me and the lads were looking forward to a bit of a holiday".

"Well they bloody might need one. The General is planning to move us into Spain next month and Marshal Vittora's gathering his forces to come meet us. Has Hagman and Pembleton come back from patrol yet"?

"No sir Hagman's probably getting us dinner. He said he saw some fat rabbits out west"

Sharpe grunted his acknowledgement. If Daniel Hagman said he was going to bring back rabbits it was as good as done. Hagman was the best shot among Sharpe's thirty odd Riflemen. He could shoot a pimple off your nose at 100 feet. But Hagman and the youngest member of Sharpe's Riflemen Pembleton were an hour late from there patrol and Sharpe was getting worried.

There was a sudden scramble of feet behind them as Riflemen Tongue joined Sharpe and Harper on the ridge.

"Sir Dan and James are back sir they caught someone. A query bugger with strange clothes".

Sharpe swore.

Just what they needed now a prisoner, if this man was French, the Frogs would be trying to find the bugger and they would be forced to retreat back to the army hard.

"Sure he's not a frog? They wear all kinds of daft pieces of clothing" asked Harper.

"No Frog dress like this bugger does. Although his overcoat did look American"

Sharpe nodded. Isaiah Tongue maybe an awful drunk but he was an educated man of the world.

"Well let's have a look at him. If he turns out to be French we can always shoot the basted" Sharpe said.

Sharpe and his two riflemen walked down the grassy ridge to the center of there camp where Hagman and Pembleton had laid the unconscious body of a strange man. Sharpe stared at the skinny man with the spiky haircut and sideburns. His clothes were strange indeed. Under the American overcoat he wore a weird stripy jacket with matching pants which include a thin cravat and round collar. Sharpe felt an involuntary shiver go up his spine.

He didn't know how or why but Sharpe knew this man was dangerous, a force to be reckoned with. Judging by the faces of the rest of his Riflemen they felt it too. Sharpe felt a storm coming, a oncoming storm

"Must be the latest fashion in America my Great Uncle worked at the docks and got a coat just like that from an American sailor" commented Harper

"Wasn't that the same great uncle who stole the cargo from the bowls a British Navy ship" said Rifleman Dodd.

"Nah Great Uncle Matthew couldn't steal to save his life. He got the coat in a game of cards. It was the only thing he did win" Harper recounted.

"If he's American Captain Hogan will want to hear about this could mean that America is joining the war. Where did you find him Dan" said Sharpe?

"Was doing the usual patrol when me and the lad heard a terrible groaning. When we went to investigate the noise we found this strange bugger. He didn't look French or Spanish so I thought he'd be worth taking prisoner. Me and the lad thought carrying him back would be easier" reported Hagman

"You did the right thing"said Sharpe.

The strange bugger's eye sprang open startling the riflemen. Except Sharpe who took a in front of the strange man so he was standing over him and said

"My name is Lieutenant Richard Sharpe 95th Rifle and who the devil are you"?