"Then come and help me, my dear fellow."
"How?"
"To put it in position. In case of siege, I must leave you some artillery."
So we harnessed ourselves to the cannon, and I placed it in position about thirty yards from the door. Then I slipped half the contents of my powder-horn into the gun and wadded it with my pocket-handkerchief; on the top of this first wadding I slipped in a score of bullets; then I rammed Bard's handkerchief on the top of these and the cannon was loaded. When loaded, I laid and primed it.
"There!" I said, panting; "now listen to what you must do."
"I await your instructions."
"How many cigarettes can you smoke on end?"
"Oh! as many as I have tobacco to turn them into or money to buy them!"
"Well, then, my friend, smoke without intermission, so that you always have a lighted cigarette on hand: if they try to get inside without your leave and force the gate open, ask them three times to withdraw and if, upon the third request, they still persist in entering, place yourself where the recoil of the cannon cannot break your legs and then pass your lighted cigarette diagonally across the priming, and you will see how the machine will work!"
"All right!" said Bard, not raising the slightest objection.