"Upon my word," said Uncle William, "I've never seen anyone handle a gun so carelessly as you. D'you call yourself a soldier?"
"I am a bit slack," replied James, laughing. "People are always telling me that."
"Well, take care, for goodness' sake! It may be loaded."
"Oh, no, there's no danger. It's not loaded, and besides, it's locked."
"Still, you oughtn't to hold it like that."
"It would be rather comic if I killed myself accidentally. I wonder what Mary would say?"
"Well, you've escaped death so often by the skin of your teeth, I think you're pretty safe from everything but old age."
Presently James turned to his uncle.
"I say, this is rotten oil. I wish we could get some fresh."
"I was just thinking that."