Before the exasperated lad could decide on his next step Jim was at his side, clutching at stock and barrel with strong hands.
"Give it to me!"
There was a short scuffle, and the gun was wrenched from Percy's grasp.
"Let me alone, Spurling! I'll kill that brute before he's ten minutes older!"
"Oh no, you won't!" replied Jim, coolly.
Breaking open the weapon, he extracted the shells and dropped them into his pocket.
"How many of these did you bring out?"
"Never you mind!"
"Oh, well, I know how many I had. I can count 'em. They're too dangerous to be lying around loose where a hothead like you can get hold of 'em."
He took the gun into the cabin. In half a minute he was out again.