"What are you doing with your guns? Do you think there is any danger here?"
The old man hesitated for a reply, and the boy said,
"Show me how to manage them, it may be useful."
Lasvène hesitated a moment, but finally decided to teach little Jacques how to fire these long guns. The boy quickly grasped the movement. When he bit his first cartridge he made a wry face. When one is inexperienced the powder gets between the teeth.
"Once more," he said, "I am not quite sure yet."
When the clock struck three, Jacques could load the gun like any old grenadier, but he had not been permitted to fire it.
"Your mother is asleep and little sister too," the old man said.
Jacques did not persist.
"Now lie down, my boy, and get a little sleep."