But if their superiors placed a high importance on the capture of
these elusive wretches, clearly they did not. For them it was a
tedious duty; and without their captain to oversee them they were
merely pretending to search, killing time and half looking for
trouble. Like much of the English military of that time they were not
volunteers, but had been pressed into service as an alternative to
prison. They were neither dedicated nor high-minded, and had been
assigned to this remote desert (as they thought of it) because they
were fit for little else. In fact, they were hooligans, representing
not the best of their country, but the worst. As for compassion, they
had little enough for their own kind. For the kin of these stubborn
Highland fools, they had none.
So when they saw the girl it was not a question of what they wanted
from her, but only, would there be anyone to witness the act? Their
eyes searched ahead and behind, to either side, then fixed resolutely
on the girl.
Mary observed all of this, but stood rooted to the spot in fear and
disbelief.
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