“I dare say it was, but I didn’t ask for any description of that. I asked and still ask, what did you do, not see?”
“Well, sir, when my master, Lieutenant Garnet, and Bob Bertram made their fierce attack upon the burning Block-House, and, followed by their gallant fellows, were fighting in the court-yard, in the passages, and other places, I—— Well—I—that is to say, most worthy colonel, because I couldn’t get near enough to engage in the combat myself—I——”
“He stood on a door-step and looked on, colonel,” said a dozen voices at once.
“Yes, sir,” said Tim, meekly bowing, and trembling, as he saw the colonel’s blood mounting; “I stood on the door-step, and acted as commander-in-chief, cheering the lads on.”
“I thought so,” said Colonel Blood, angrily.
At the same time he rewarded Tim for his great valour by giving him a sound smack in the face, which knocked him right among the applauding crowd.
This was more than Master Tim expected.
But, for fear he’d get any more, Tim sneaked away among the crowd like a dog who has lost his tail.
“Who is that I saw just now borne away upon a shutter?” said Colonel Blood.
“That is one of the rascals who were in the Block-House, colonel,” said several.