“No,” said Mercer excitedly; “and it’s cruel and cowardly. I’m not a bit afraid of him, and Burr junior wasn’t of his man, and we did the best we could, but they knocked us about just as they liked, and hit us where they pleased, and we couldn’t hurt them a bit.”
“No, you wouldn’t be able of course,” said the old sergeant thoughtfully, taking our arms and feeling our muscles. “Well, it was very plucky of you both to stand up and face ’em, that’s all I can say. Is that why you want to learn to use your fists?”
“Yes, and as soon as we can both box well, we want to give them both such lickings!” cried Mercer eagerly.
The old sergeant began to laugh in a quiet way, and wiped the tears out of his eyes.
“Then you want to learn on the sly, and astonish ’em some day?”
“Yes, yes,” I said eagerly, for I was as excited as my companion, whose idea of revenge, now it was explained, seemed to me to be glorious.
“Well, it is tempting,” said the sergeant thoughtfully.
“And you’ll teach us?”
“And his father fought at Chillianwallah! Yes, it is tempting. You ought to be able to take your own part if big cowards tackle you.”
“Yes, Lom. Then do teach us.”