“That they must see us, Pete?”
“Of course, sir; but something else.”
“Speak lower, man!”
“All right, sir; they can’t hear. But can’t you guess?”
Archie shook his head.
“Well, I’ll tell you, sir. Here’s a double gun; there’s four boxes of cartridges. Why haven’t you got it loaded and ready to blow a couple of the enemy overboard, and then click, click, shove in two more cartridges, as I should hand to you, ready for two more shots? That would be enough to send them to the right-about, for they wouldn’t know but what there might be half a company of us hiding here.”
“How are we to get at the cartridges, Pete?” said Archie, brightening up, for his companion’s words sent a thrill of hope through his breast, and their position seemed not half so defenceless as before.
“I’ve got my knife, sir.”
“What! to cut through the lid?”
“No, sir. It’s screwed down. I think I could turn the screws with the big blade.”