But apparently Johnny is in no hurry to load up again, and likes the deep shadow of his tree too well to walk his beat any more, for we wait impatiently for a long while and see nothing of him. By and by we hear him calling over: "I say, Yank!"
"Well, Johnny?"
"If you won't shoot, I won't."
"Rather late in the morning to make such an offer, isn't it? Didn't you shoot just now?"
"You see, my old gun went off by accident."
"That's a likely yarn o' yours, Johnny!"
"But it's an honest fact, any way."
"Well, Johnny, next time your gun's going to go off in that uncomfortable way, you will oblige us chaps over here by holding the muzzle down toward Dixie, or somebody'll turn up his toes to the daisies before morning yet."
"All right, Yank," said Johnny, stepping out from behind his tree into the bright moonlight like a man, "but we can lick you, any way!"
"Andy, do you think that fellow's gun went off by accident, or was the rascal trying to hurt somebody?"