"The cowards! They have run away and left us to face the music! That's mean," said Twinkle.
The bull at this moment left the shelter of the tree and advanced toward the intruders on his domain.
"He's a-coming!" gasped Twinkle.
"Fire!" said the captain.
Mr. Twinkle grasped his gun fiercely, shut his eyes, turned his back to the buffalo, and fired.
The blank cartridge struck Captain Cannon, hurting him considerably in a very tender portion of his body—not in front neither.
"Oh-h!!! I'm shot!" he said, clapping his hands to the place and dropping his gun.
"Shot! did I hit you?" asked Mr. Twinkle, innocently.
"Did you? Why, you confounded idiot, I'm covered with blood. Look here!" the captain gasped, indignantly.
He withdrew his hands from the wound and regarded the ruby fluid grimly.