CHAPTER VI.
GUNPOWDER.
When Rollo and James went home it was nearly tea-time, and they found Jonas just coming from the pasture. They told him of the ill success of their experiment in charcoal-making, with countenances expressive of great disappointment and chagrin.
“It is no matter,” said Jonas; “you have had your afternoon’s amusement, and that’s all you want, isn’t it?”
“No, indeed,” said Rollo; “by no means.”
“Why, what else do you want?” asked Jonas.
“Why, we want some gunpowder,” said James. “We are going to make our charcoal into gunpowder.”
“You needn’t have made a charcoal bed for that,” said Jonas. “You can get all the charcoal you want to make gunpowder with, out of the kitchen fire.”
“The kitchen fire!” said Rollo.
“Yes,” replied Jonas. “You can pick up plenty of little black coals in the corners.”
“Will they do?” asked James.