"Fifty is the outside that is advisable, for with more, even if one
makes a good haul, it comes to so little, a head, that the men are
dissatisfied. Of course they work in small parties, but this does
not succeed so well as when a small band are under a single
leader."
"How long have you been at this work?"
"Since last autumn."
"And you find it pay?"
"We do not get much in money. As you saw, there were but four rix
dollars a head, and that is the result of a month's work. Still,
that is not bad for men who might otherwise starve. Sometimes we do
worse and sometimes better, but that is about the average. Still,
the life is a pleasant one, and unless we disbanded soldiers took
to it, what would there be for us to do? If government would keep
us on regular pay, there would soon be no brigands left, except the
men who have escaped from justice. But the treasury is empty, and,
even at the best of times, the troops are badly and irregularly
paid, and are forced to plunder to keep life together. They are
almost in rags, and though we Poles do not mind fighting, there is
generally a difficulty in getting sufficient infantry. As for the
cavalry, they are nobles, and draw no pay.
"How do you feel today?"
"Better.
Pages:
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287