gh, all the same."

"Yes," said Poole; "but we didn't ask them to come, and it would have
been twenty times as horrid if we hadn't stood fast and they had got in
here with those long knives."

Fitz looked at him fixedly.

"Think they'd have used them if they had got the day?"

"Think they'd have used them!" cried Poole scornfully. "Why, if they
had been pure Spaniards I believe they would in the excitement; but
fellows like those, nearly all of Indian blood, if they had got the
upper hand, wounded or sound I don't believe they'd have left a man
alive."

"I suppose not," said Fitz; "but it is very horrid, all the same.
Where's your father? Oughtn't we to go and see to the wounded men?"

"We shall have to leave that to the enemy," replied Poole. "If we went
out they'd begin firing from under cover. But here, I say--Here, you
Chips, go and ask my governor whether we ought to do anything about
those wounded men?"

"Ay, ay, sir," replied the carpenter; "but I know what he'll say."

"What?" said Fitz sharply.

"Same as Mr Poole did, sir, for sartin," and the man trotted away.

"You sent him off because you wanted to speak to me. What is it? Is
there fresh danger?"

"Oh no; they'll think twice before they come again. But, I say, what
have you been about?"

"Been--about? What do you mean?"

"Look at that gun! Why, Fitz Burnett, you've been firing too!"

The boy's jaw dropped, and he stared at the speaker, then at the lock of
the double fowling-piece, and then back, before raising the cocks,
opening the blackened breech, and withdrawing a couple of empty
cartridges.

"I didn't know," he said softly. "Had it been fired before?"

"It's kept warm a long time if it had," said Poole, with his face
wrinkling up with mirth. "Do you call this being a non-combatant?"

"Oh, but surely--" began Fitz. "I couldn't have fired without knowing,
and--" He paused.

"It seems that you could," cried Poole mirthfully. "You've popped off
two cartridges, for certain. Have you used any more?"

"Oh no! I am certain, quite certain; but I am afraid--in the
excitement--hardly knowing what I was about--I must have done as the
others did."

"Yes, and you said you didn't mean to fight. I say, nice behaviour this
for an officer in your position. How many anti-revolutionists do you
think you've killed?"

"Oh, Poole Reed, for goodness' sake don't say you think I've killed
either of these poor wretches?"

"Any of the