point, and then coming back to the second guard--'

'But that would be taking care of yourself--not hitting at him.'

'How can you say that!' he cried, the beams upon his face turning to
a lurid cloud in a moment. 'How can you understand military terms
who've never had a sword in your life? I shouldn't take him with
the sword at all.' He went on with eager sulkiness, 'I should take
him with my pistol. I should pull off my right glove, and throw
back my goat-skin; then I should open my priming-pan, prime, and
cast about--no, I shouldn't, that's wrong; I should draw my right
pistol, and as soon as loaded, seize the weapon by the butt; then at
the word "Cock your pistol" I should--'

'Then there is plenty of time to give such words of command in the
heat of battle?' said Anne innocently.

'No!' said the yeoman, his face again in flames. 'Why, of course I
am only telling you what WOULD be the word of command IF--there now!
you la--'

'I didn't; 'pon my word I didn't!'

'No, I don't think you did; it was my mistake. Well, then I come
smartly to Present, looking well along the barrel--along the barrel-
-and fire. Of course I know well enough how to engage the enemy!
But I expect my old uncle has been setting you against me.'

'He has not said a word,' replied Anne; 'though I have heard of you,
of course.'