"That must have been exciting," said Frank, while Johnny looked over his shoulder, and grinned at Archie.
"It was indeed exciting, and dangerous, too. It takes a man with nerves of iron to stand perfectly still, and let a roaring lion walk up within ten paces of him, before he puts a bullet through his head."
"Could you do it?"
"Could I? I have done it more than once. If one of those ferocious animals were here now, I would give you a specimen of my shooting, which is an accomplishment in which I can not be beaten. I expect that you would be so badly frightened that you would desert me, and leave me to fight him alone."
"Wouldn't you run?"
"Not an inch."
"Would you fire that blunderbuss at him?" asked Johnny.
"Blunderbuss?" repeated Arthur.
"That shot-gun, I mean."
"Certainly I would. You see I have the nerve to do it. From Europe I went to India, and there I risked my life for six years more among the polar bears."