"Then by all means let Mr. Mole attack the beast. How fierce he looks, and what terrible horns he has! Go in, Mole, and slay him!"
"That is for you to do," replied Mole. "I will lie down in the grass where he can't see me."
"What is the use of that?"
"Don't you see? I can take a steady shot at the savage creature and he won't know what hit him."
The professor did not waste any more time in words. He threw himself down in the long grass, while Captain Cannon retired behind the unfortunate Twinkle.
The latter had never in his life shot anything bigger than a sparrow in spite of all his boasting, and he was thoroughly alarmed.
"Bless me!" exclaimed the captain. "Where are Harkaway and the other fellows?"
"Not gone, are they?" inquired Twinkle.
"I can't see them anywhere."