“I’d rather not,” replied Uncle Jeff. “I came up here to fight, not talk.”
“But it will encourage them, sir—put heart into them. It does not matter how few words so long as they are to the point.”
“Very well,” said Uncle Jeff, flushing, as he drew in a deep breath and filled out his chest.—“Just a word, my lads, all of you, English and Chinese, for we have to fight like brothers to-day.”
There was a hearty cheer, and Uncle Jeff seemed to be encouraged by this, and spoke out more firmly as he went on.
“There’s our duty before us,” he continued, “to kill or wound as many of these murderous savages as we can, for the sake of being left at peace to earn our livings like men.”
There was another cheer at this, and as it died out Uncle Jeff continued:
“Then all I have to say more to you is this, that we are going to share all dangers with you, and in return we ask you to behave like men.”
That was all, and the echo of the final words was drowned by a burst of applause and cries of “We will! We will!”
“Now,” shouted Blunt; “once more: no random shots. Every cartridge used ought to mean one enemy the less, every miss a mistake. Don’t fire, then, till you are sure.—Now then, coolies, you with knife, club, and bar will always be ready to come to the first window to help to beat down the enemy if they try to get in. When not wanted for that, half of you are to be ready to hurl back the stink-pots thrown in, and the others to keep to the buckets and dash out any fire that threatens to take hold. Now then, every man in his place.”
There was a rush, and Uncle Jeff, who was watching the coming junks, cocked his rifle.