I give you my word of honour, as a British officer, that I have no others on me." "Put him in the middle of the troop, sergeant," the officer said.
"Put a trooper in special charge of him, on each side.

Unbuckle his reins, and buckle them on to those of the troopers.

Do you ride behind him, and keep a sharp lookout upon him.

It is an important capture." Five minutes later, the squadron again started on their way south.
Ryan, after silently cursing his bad luck at having arrived at the spot just as this body of cavalry were crossing, wondered what evil fortune had sent them there, at that precise moment.

He was not long in arriving at a conclusion.