I think now it was very natural: I felt horribly ashamed of it then.
Whether it was the case, or that Jack Penny was only taking his tint from the greeny reflected light in the cavern, certainly he looked very cadaverous and strange.
He caught my eye and blew out his cheeks, and began to whistle softly as he rubbed the barrel of his gun with his sleeve.
Turning rather jauntily towards the doctor he said softly:
“Suppose I am to shoot now, doctor?”
“When I give the order,” said the latter coldly.
“There won’t be any mistake this time?”
“No,” said the doctor, quietly; “there will not be any mistake this time!”
He stopped and gazed intently at the savages, who were cautiously descending towards the stream, not in a body but spread out in a line.
“Fire first with large shot,” he said softly. “If we can frighten them without destroying life we will. Now creep each of you behind that clump of stones and be firm. Mind it is by steadily helping one another in our trouble that we are strong.”