"No, but I've read about them."
Kit chewed his thumb. It was one of his old baby habits.
"Now I am going to load her again," said Joe, in a peculiarly affectionate tone. "It's as light as day out here."
"But, Joe, if you should shoot some one, or your fingers, or put your eyes out!"
"Never you mind, Granny. Boys go ahead of cats for lives."
Granny put her apron over her head again, and then ran in to Dot.
"Bang!"
"Nobody wounded," laughed Joe, "and only two or three slightly killed. The country is safe, Granny, this great and gelorious country, over which the eagle waves his plumes, and flaps his wings, and would crow if he could. My soul is filled with enthusiasm,—I feel as if I should bust, and fly all round! There's that miserable Dot lifting up her voice."
The racket had broken her slumbers, and then the children were implored to be quiet. Joe went to bed, in order to be able to get up good and early. Charlie thought she should sleep with her clothes on, so as to save the trouble of dressing. Kit sat in the moonlight chewing his thumb, and wondering if he could manage to get over to Salem to-morrow. If he could only hear that music!