"I've hard, sir. And if so be a common seaman might make so bold, there's but one thing for it, and that's the cold steel."
He laid his Bible aside and took up his cutlass.
"It's a forlorn hope, Piper."
"It's the only one, sir."
The Parson swung round.
"And there's another thing," he cried in terrible agony. "What about you, Piper? We shall take it in the open; but you, you'll have to wait for it. I can't leave you to fall alive into the hands of those—those—O my God! my God!" stamping up and down.
There was quiet thrill in the voice that answered,
"They ca'an't touch me, sir. I'm safe in Jesus." The old man seemed to shine in the darkness.
"It's not death I fear for you!" cried the Parson. "No Christian fears that for his friend. It's—it's the old game—the Gap Gang."
"Ah, they won't have no time for no larks," interposed the other with a comfortable chuckle. "They can do their muckiest. It won't last long. The soldiers'll stop that."