“Yes, no one could fight better. If he had had as much learning as I had he would have been made an officer too; but, you see, he can hardly read or write, and, fight as he may, he [pg 205]will always remain as he is. A finer fellow never stepped; but because he has no learning he must always remain before the mast.”
“And you have lost some fingers I see, Will.”
“Yes, they were shot off by a musket-ball in the West Indies. Luckily it was my left hand; so I manage very well without them.”
“I hope you blew off the fingers of the fellow that shot you.”
“No, I can’t say who did it, and indeed I never felt anything at all until some little time after.”
“I wish I had been there,” John said, “I would have had a slap at him with a musket. That was an unlucky shot, Will.”
“Well, I have always considered it a lucky one, for if it had gone a few inches on one side it would have probably finished me altogether.”
“Well, well, it is wonderful to me. Here am I, an old man, and never, so far as I can remember, been a couple of miles from Scarcombe, and you, quite a young chap, have been wandering and fighting all over the world.”
“Not quite so much as that, John, though I have certainly seen a good deal. But here is mother.”
Mrs. Hammond entered with a face beaming with delight.