“And what then, my good fellow?”
“Don’t believe him, colonel.”
“He is telling a string of lies.”
“A perfect coward, sir.”
“As timid as a mouse, colonel,” said one and another, as they still laughed outright at Tim’s account of the affair.
“On my word, most noble colonel, all I say is true.”
“Well, go on then, I am listening. What part did you take?”
“Well, sir, when the fight was at its highest, and when the smith, by not following my advice, got killed, I exhorted all to be more prudent, and to hide their heads well behind the palings and wood-work, for I could see that those devils called the Skeleton Crew were dead shots and knocked over every one they aimed at.”
“Well?”
“Oh, it was beautiful to see how they jumped out of the windows, and off the burning roof into the river,” said Master Tim, grinning and chuckling.