How shall we know what to do, when you give the word, if you don’t tell us aforehand—I should like to know that....
Shet your clam, Obadiah P. Joy—aint you ashamed o’ yourself; nice feller you for a sojer—aint he boys?
Well, fire away then.
Now you see, I’m goin’ to say now or never, three times ... behave there! behave I say! ... and when I’ve said now or never the third time, off I go, you see! right bang, slap dash into that are wood there, a top or that air hill, and them that’s good enough to carry guts to a bear, they’ll go with me. Soh ... all ready now!
Ay, ay ... ay, ay, Sir ... ruther guess we be....
Now ... or ... never! said Clark, leaning forward with a preparatory step, setting the breach of his heavy musket in the turf, and driving home the ramrod, to prove the weight of the charge. Now-or-never! cocking it, and shaking the powder into the pan, with his eye on the troop, all of whom stood with their left leg forward, ready for the race ... now-or-never! and off he started before the words were fairly out of his mouth on the heels of two or three who had started before.
Keep together, keep together! shouted Burroughs. Whatever else you do, keep together!
But no, no ... they would have their own way.
If the indians are there, added he.... If they are! ... as he saw the whole thirty stretching away all out of breath for a wood which crowned the top of the hill—If they are! it is all up with us ... and I am sorely afraid of that narrow green lane there, with a brush-fence on the upper side of it.... Ha!——God forgive them for their folly.... Did you see that?
See what.... I saw nothing....