“Musket knocked me down,” cried Tommy, sobbing as the blood ran out of his mouth.
“Serve you right, Tommy; you’ll take care not to touch the musket again.”
“I won’t touch it again,” cried Tommy, blubbering.
Juno now came up with some water to wash his face; Mrs Seagrave had recovered, and gone back into the tent, on Mr Seagrave telling her that it was only Tommy’s nose which was bleeding.
In about half-an-hour Tommy had ceased crying, and his nose had left off bleeding; his face was washed, and then it was discovered that he had lost two front teeth, and that his cheek and lips were very much bruised. He was undressed, and put to bed, and was soon fast asleep.
“I should not have left the muskets,” said Ready to William; “it was my fault; but I thought Tommy had been told so often not to touch fire-arms, that he would not dare to do so.”
“He pointed it at me, and tried to shoot me,” said Caroline, “but I ran away.”
“Merciful heavens! what an escape!” cried Mrs Seagrave.
“He has been well punished this time, madam, and I’ll venture to say he will not touch a musket again in a hurry.”
“Yes; but he must be punished more,” said Mr Seagrave. “He must remember it.”