“Lookye here, Billy Widgeon,” growled the boatswain, “if you don’t do your dooty like a man, and chuck them there blazing sticks right into the back o’ that there hole, I’m blest if I don’t.”
Billy Widgeon said never a word, but got his wood well ablaze, while the captain and major stood right in front of the cave, with Small and Mark on their right and left.
“Now, be careful,” said the captain; and then Billy Widgeon crept cautiously under the mouth of the cave, and then began to climb, with the smoke rising from the fire, till he was so high that he could hold on with one hand and throw with the other.
“Ready!” cried the captain.
Whizz went the burning brands, so well aimed that they went right into the cave, and an unexpected result was produced. One of these went right in, and the other fell upon the bed of palm leaves which Mark had occupied. This began to blaze, the other caught, and in a few minutes the interior was full of flame and smoke, the former roaring, and the latter eddying out and up the face of the rock.
“Not at home,” said the major, as they all stood breathlessly waiting for the outburst of the furious monster, which Mark painted mentally as something between a lion and a bear, but elephantine in size.
“Think not?”
“No wild beast would stand that without making a run for it.”
Hardly had the major spoken when there was a deafening roar, accompanied by a rushing sound; Billy Widgeon dropped down, and rolled over, to lie among some ferns, crouched together like a ball; Small ran to the nearest tree, and peered round it, taking aim, while the other two men followed Small’s example. The captain, major, and Mark stood firm, but the latter had so hard a fight with self that he would have had but little for any furious beast that had charged. For all the time nature kept on saying, “Run for your life!” while education whispered, “Face the danger like a man!”
Education won, and Mark stared as he saw his father uncock his piece and throw it over his shoulder, while the major began to laugh.