“Mr. Huntsworth says that it is because he is a soldier,” said Bob.
“I wish I could take him home. I must as soon as possible,” said Jeanne.
Bob looked at her wonderingly. It was a surprise to her how Jeanne still kept the hope of getting home, and ignored the fact that she and Dick were prisoners. Opening her lips she was about to reply when the unmistakable whirring of a shell told her that the battery which they feared the most had turned their guns upon their hill. Running to the entrance she called Dick and the servants in. They had just obeyed her summons when a Parrott shell came whirring in at the entrance and fell in the centre of the cave before them all, lying there smoking.
Terrified they fastened their eyes upon it. Their fate seemed certain. For one moment they remained thus, and then Dick rushed forward, seized the shell and threw it into the street, regaining the cave just as the shell exploded.
“Dick,” cried Jeanne running to him, “oh, how brave you are! But what if you had been killed!”
“It’s time I was throwing them,” said Dick emphatically. “I ought to have been at the other end of them long ago.”
“Oh, but what if you had been killed,” sobbed Jeanne. “What would mother say?”
“That I had but done my duty,” answered the lad.
“He is right,” said Mr. Huntsworth. “Besides had he not been so brave not only he but all the rest of us would have been killed also. Let us give thanks for our wonderful escape.”