"Oh! Tommy, you must not touch the gun," cried Caroline; "papa will be very angry."
"I don't care," replied Tommy. "I'll show you how to shoot the pig."
"Don't, Tommy," cried Caroline; "if you do, I'll go and tell mamma."
"Then I'll shoot you," replied Tommy, trying to point the musket at her.
Caroline was so frightened, that she ran away as fast as she could, and then Tommy, using all his strength, contrived to get the musket up to his shoulder, and pulled the trigger.
It so happened that Tommy had taken up Mr. Seagrave's musket, which had not been fired, and when he pulled the trigger it went off, and as he did not hold it tight to his shoulder, it recoiled, and hit him with the butt right on his face, knocking out two of his teeth, besides making his nose bleed very fast.
Tommy was so astonished and frightened at the musket going off, and the blow which he received, that he gave a loud yell, dropped the musket, and ran to the tent where his father and mother were, just as they had started up and had rushed out at hearing the report.
When Mrs. Seagrave saw Tommy all covered with blood, and screaming so loud, she was so alarmed that she could not stand, and fell fainting in Mr. Seagrave's arms. Ready and William, on hearing the musket go off, had run as fast as they could, fearing that some accident had happened; and while Mr. Seagrave supported his wife, Ready went to Tommy, and wiping the blood off his face with the palm of his hand, perceived that there was no wound or serious mischief, and cried out to Mr. Seagrave, "He's not hurt, sir; it's only his nose bleeding."
"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."