“I wish you was somebody else, Master Fred.”
“Why?”
“Oh, I’d know, sir.”
“Give me the flint and steel and the candle.”
“What for, sir?”
“To light,” cried Fred, impatiently.
“Nay, I’m going to light that candle, and I’m going along with you, Master Fred. Why, what would the colonel say if he found out that I’d left you in the lurch?”
“Better leave me than give me a coward for a companion.”
“Well, I do call that cruel to a man as only wanted to tell you what a risk it was. Never know’d me to be a coward yet, Master Fred, never! I only wanted you to understand the worst. Come along, sir.”
Before Fred could interfere, Samson had taken two or three strides, and then made a leap right on to the dead branches which masked the entrance to the hole. The result was as might be expected; he crashed through feet first, and disappeared.