"We can beat them off, as we did those last night."
"Gossifus! Some ob us git killed for shore, if dey keep shooten wid de guns."
"Better die than be taken, Cyd. We must believe this before we can be sure of success."
"Dat's what I's gwine to do," added Quin. "Dis chile will fight till dey ain't notin lef ob him—ye kin be shore ob dat."
"Possifus! Den, if you's all gwine to fight, Cyd ain't gwine to be out ob de fashion, for sartin. I's don't know much about de guns, but Cyd kin split a two-inch plank a buttin agin it. I's can't shoot, but I can butt," grinned Cyd. "You kin bet your life dis chile ain't no coward, no how."
"You did very well last night, Cyd, and I hope you will stand up to your principles," said Dan.
"What's dem?"
"What do you think, Cyd?"
"Hossifus! Cyd tinks he's sleepy," yawned he, opening his mouth in a fearful gape. "I's stand up to dat, for shore."
"Very well; but one of us shall stand watch while the others sleep. Which shall it be?"