"I did not scratch mine finger. I haf been shot mit der fingers. I shall draw more pensions, but I shall have mooch joy in seeing you hanged."
The soldiers, under whose charge the boys were being conducted to the place where they were to display their skill with the rifles, were laughing heartily at the impotent rage of the little sutler.
Dennis, in spite of his bantering, did not betray a trace of a smile on his face. As solemnly as if the errand upon which he was going was the sole purpose in his mind, he looked reprovingly at Levi as if his heart was moved by sorrow more than by anger.
"Are you coming with us, Levi?" he inquired.
"Yah, I vill surely come. I shall mit great pleasure see you hanged. You shall no more tip ofer—"
"I say, sergeant," said Dennis, "what are we to have for a target?"
"I don't know," replied the soldier good-naturedly. "We'll find something."
"If you haven't any target ready, I would like to suggest one."
"What is it?"
"I think it would be a great scheme to have this little sutler come along with us and stand him up at a distance of seventy-five yards. Noel, here, can clip one ear an' thin I'll take the other. Thin we'll cut off a part of his nose, though he will have enough left even thin to satisfy any two or three living men—"