“We ought to keep the gun loaded,” said Mark, as they reached the hut.
“Yes; but it ought to be slung up, and not put anywhere where it might be knocked over.”
“Let’s make some slings for it.”
After loading the gun this time with a charge of shot, and ramming it home with the brass ramrod—Mark enjoyed using the ramrod too much to hurry over it—they set to work and drove two stout nails into the uprights on the opposite side to the bed. To one of these nails a loop of cord was fastened; to the other a similar piece was tied at one end, the other had a lesser loop, so as to take on or off the nail. When off it hung down, when on it made a loop like the other. The barrel of the gun was put through the first loop, and the stock then held up while the other piece of cord was hitched to its nail, when the long gun hung suspended.
“It looks like a hunter’s hut now,” said Bevis, contemplating the matchlock. “I’ll put my bow in the corner.” He leaned his bow in the corner, and put a sheaf of arrows by it.
“My spear will go here,” said Mark.
“No,” said Bevis. “Put the spear by the bee head.”
“Ready for use in the night?”
“Yes; put a knobstick too. That’s it. Now look.”
“Doesn’t it look nice?”