On the fly

He seized a spear from one of the guards on the fly, and began to stab the surrounding carpet, cursing something fearful. Then he flung the spear aside, shook his fists at heaven, and darted into the pavilion . . . and the assembled military and civilian worthies stood silent and thoughtful, determined not to look at each other, like a convocation of clergy when the bishop has farted extempore.


Flashman on the March, p.200, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2005.


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Before the tempest

      “Why not — have you heard something?”
      “Just the barra choop,” says he, grinning all over his ugly mug.
      “What the devil’s that?”
      “You don’t know — an old Khyber hand like you? Barra choop — the silent time before the tempest.” He cocked his head. “Yes, sir, I can hear it all right.”


Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.159, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.



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Silence and shrewdness

…silence frequently passes for shrewdness, and that while suppressio veri is a damned good servant, suggestio falsi is a perilous master, Selah.

Flashman and the Dragon, p.262, Fontana Paperback edition, 1986.



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Not even a sniff o’ danger

It was unnerving, and suddenly I could hear Kit Carson’s strained quiet voice in the dread silence of the wagon road west of Leavenworth: 'Nary a sight nor sound anywhere – not even a sniff o’danger. That’s what frets me.'

Flashman at the Charge, p.184, Pan edition, 5th printing, 1979.

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Flashman, Flashman quotes,Kit Carson, danger.