He had struck up a great friendship with a Frenchman, one of the Voltigeurs, in a neighbouring camp, who, in return for occasional nips of sound brandy, brought straight from the _Burlington Castle_, freely imparted the whole of his culinary knowledge to the quartermaster of the Royal Picts.
"He is a first-class cook," said Hyde to his friend McKay, "and was trained, he tells me, in one of the best kitchens in Paris. He could make soup, I believe, out of an old shoe."
"I can't think how you get the materials for the men's meals. That stew yesterday was never made out of the ration-biscuit and salt pork. There was fresh meat in it. Where did you get it?"
"If I were to tell you it would get about, and the men would not touch it."
"There's lots of fresh meat to be got in the camp by those who know where to look for it. Anatole"--this was his French friend--"put me up to it."
"I don't understand, Hyde. What do you mean?"
"I mean that her Majesty's Royal Picts have been feeding upon horseflesh. And very excellent meat, too, full of nourishment when it is not too thin. That is my chief difficulty with what I get."
"It's only prejudice, I suppose," said McKay, laughing; "but it will be as well, I think, to keep your secret."
But horseflesh was better than no meat, and the men of the Royal Picts throve well and kept their strength upon Hyde's soups and savoury stews. Thanks to the care bestowed upon them, the regiment kept up its numbers in a marvellous way--it even returned more men for duty than corps which had just arrived, and the difference between it and others in the camp-grounds close by was so marked that Lord Raglan came over and complimented Blythe upon the condition of his command.
"I can't tell how you manage, Blythe," said his lordship; "I wish we had a few more regiments like the Picts."
"It is all system, my lord, and I have reason, I think, to be proud of ours--that and an excellent regimental staff. I have a capital quartermaster and a first-rate adjutant."
"I should like to see them," said Lord Raglan.
McKay and Hyde were brought forward and presented to the Commander-in-Chief.
"Mr. McKay, I know your name. You behaved admirably at Inkerman. I have just had a letter, too, about you from England."