“Throw down your weapons and surrender, or you are dead men!” he shouted again, and at this the third Tory, who must have believed there was more than one man in the thicket, took to his heels in alarm, while Corporal ’Lige, who had received no worse injury than a severe choking, seized upon the three muskets which were lying close beside him.
Even now, when two of the intruders were wounded and the third running for dear life, Isaac was doubtful as to whether he should show himself.
He remained in concealment, while the corporal gazed around him in surprise for a dozen seconds or more, and gave no token of his whereabouts until the old man shouted:
“Hello, friends! Show yourselves!”
“Is it all right?” Isaac asked timidly, and in a tone which was little better than a squeak. “Is it all right, corporal?”
“IS IT ALL RIGHT, CORPORAL?” ISAAC ASKED TIMIDLY.
Corporal ’Lige’s Recruit, p. 57.
“Come in here, Isaac Rice. Can it be it was you who fired those shots?”
The raw recruit came forward almost timidly, and Corporal ’Lige, shifting the three muskets he had taken possession of over on to his left arm, seized the boy by the hand.