“Shall you laugh at me if I say yes?”
“Not likely, when I own to it too. I say, I wish they’d leave us alone.”
“Look here, Mr Brazier, sir,” said the old sailor just then, after admonishing his men to pull their best, “I’m going to ask you to let me manage this.”
“No,” said Brazier sternly; “I wish to avoid all the bloodshed possible.”
“So do I, sir—specially ours,” said Shaddy drily; “and mine would be the way.”
“Quick, then: explain,” said Brazier, as the boys listened eagerly. “Make haste, for the enemy are very near.”
“Soon done,” said Shaddy, “only what I proposed, sir: you folk keep me supplied with guns, and I’ll try ’em with gentle measures first, and rough ones after. I’m a tidy shot, eh, Mr Jovanni?”
“Yes, excellent,” said the lad.
“Very well, then, you shall try to stop them,” replied Brazier, “but I warn you that if I am not satisfied I shall take the lead myself.”
“All right, sir, but don’t you make the mistake of giving up and trusting these people! That means death for all of us. They must be beaten off.”