"Is it possible?" cried Mr. Brown, hastily, drawing his weapon and inspecting it.
"I see nothing," he continued. "The powder and ball seem to be in their places, and the caps on."
"Take off the caps, and then see," I remarked.
He did as I requested, and found the tubes stopped as mine
"The devil!" he muttered; "I don't like this much." "Neither do I; but we must make the best of it. The quicker we extract the plugs, the more safe I shall feel."
The task was a long one, but we accomplished it, and then, to make all sure, we reloaded our weapons, and felt relieved when we found that we could depend upon them.
"When was this done?" Mr. Brown inquired.
"Probably yesterday afternoon, while we were looking over the farm."
"But who could have done it?"